Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has called for action against gangs operating in the Kakinada Anchorage Port and an end to the illegal/smuggling activities there.
PK was miffed on Friday as his attempt to visit the ship that carried consignments of PDS rice was thwarted by the Kakinada Port authorities when he reached there for an inspection. They told him the sea was rough.
“The export of ration rice through the port is an illegal action. Chances of import of RDX and even weapons through the port are high if the gangs there are not controlled. Such acts may even compromise national security,” PK told the media.
He directed the authorities to serve notices to the Kakinada Port’s chief executive officer and to the stakeholders and seize the ship. “We will discuss the illegal export of PDS rice at the next state cabinet meeting and take a decision on a probe by the CBI or the CID,” he said.
Kalyan called for a major crackdown on the gangs/mafia and said he would alert the central home ministry for immediate action.
The deputy CM arrived at the anchorage port along with civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar and inquired into the illegal export of PDS rice through the port.
PK told the media the Kakinada port has become a major hub for smuggling activities. Huge quantities of PDS rice are being exported from here illegally and the officials are failing to curb this, he noted.
“The Kakinada port is meant for exports in a legal manner, and not for smuggling of rice etc. When I as Dy CM arrived here to inspect the port and wanted to reach the ship where PDS rice was loaded for export, for an inspection, there was no cooperation from the port officials. I was not allowed into the ship,” Kalyan said.
The Dy CM said 16 companies were involved in the export of rice from the port. Even though we were able to seize the PDS rice from getting exported illegally, the exporters were approaching the courts and trying to evade the law.”
“Those responsible for this will face the consequences. I believe that a deep-rooted network here is engaged in illegal activities. When I decided to visit the port and ship following the seizure of PDS rice from the vessel last night, I received some messages urging me not to undertake the visit, as it might affect the lives of some 10,000 families.”
He said, “I am not looking solely at the illegal export of PDS rice from the port, but there are some issues of maritime security too.”
“I told the district police and SP to focus on the port, in view of its vulnerability but I got no report from them so far. The collector took the initiative to seize the PDS rice,” he said.
The deputy CM said, “It would cost the exchequer Rs 43.50 for a kg of rice to be distributed under PDS to the BPL families. Such rice is being exported to other countries illegally after purchasing it from the beneficiaries. These rice consignments go to nations like South Africa. For this, the smuggler mafia take Rs 70-73 a kg.
PK said, “India can supply such rice at Rs 43 to South Africa through official trade channels. However, such rice is unfortunately falling into the hands of smugglers, who are making thousands of crores of rupees.”
He said, “I will write to home minister Amit Shah to explain these matters and alert him about the vulnerability of the port. There are some key installations like oil and natural gas deposits in the KG Basin. Anyone can come and cause any harm.”
“I have brought the issue to the notice of chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. There is a need to come up with strong legal provisions. We are going to implement the PD Act for repeat offenders involving in smuggling of PDS rice once it gets the consent from the President.”
