Uttam Issues Stern Warning on Rice Price Hike
Telangana minister Uttam Kumar Reddy warns rice traders against hoarding and overpricing as the government intensifies raids to control rising prices.
Irrigation and civil supplies minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday issued a stern warning to rice traders against illegal hoarding, black marketing and selling rice at exorbitant prices, making it clear that the government would take stringent action against violators.
Declaring that the government was determined to bring down rising rice prices and protect consumers from undue burden, the minister said enforcement operations had been intensified across the state, with special attention to wholesale and retail markets in Hyderabad and surrounding districts.
The minister reviewed measures to control prices following discussions held by the officials of the civil supplies department with wholesalers, retailers and rice millers. Civil supplies commissioner Stephen Ravindra briefed him on the special enforcement measures initiated, while director of civil supplies Shyam Prasad Lal and other senior officials participated in the discussions.
As part of the price-control initiative, the government was focusing on `66 per kg for commonly consumed BPT rice, while the price for RNR rice would be reviewed taking into account differences in quality and production costs. "The government will not tolerate profiteering at the expense of consumers, and enforcement operations will continue until the market stabilises," Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
Twelve cases have already been registered against rice traders for alleged irregularities, including illegal stockpiling and overpricing, following coordinated raids by five departments — civil supplies, police, GST, legal metrology and the concerned enforcement authorities.
Extensive inspections have been undertaken in Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, covering major wholesale trading centres, including Begum Bazaar, Nampally and Maharajgunj. The raids will continue across the state to identify violations, curb excessive pricing and ensure relief to consumers, Uttam Kumar Reddy said.
Assuring the public that Telangana has sufficient rice stocks, the minister appealed to consumers not to panic or resort to unnecessary bulk purchases. He also urged beneficiaries to consume the fine rice supplied through ration shops. The rice distributed through the public distribution system is sourced from paddy grown by Telangana farmers and milled within the state, he pointed out.