Infested coarse rice stocks adds up to concerns of new supplies getting infected
Hyderabad: In the wake of infected stock of coarse rice lying in ration shops, PDS dealers are worried about infection spreading to new stocks of fine rice.
As 90 per cent of coarse rice stocks reportedly got infected, ration dealers sought official permission to ‘throw away’ the damaged stock.
“We have been seeking permission from authorities to throw away the old stocks of coarse rice, as nothing is left of these grains now. Because of the delay in clearing these bags of rice, even the new arrivals are getting infected. Our association has represented to the officials umpteen number of times, with no avail,” said TS Ration Dealers Welfare Association vice-president P. Anand Kumar.
In a representation submitted by the association to the director, civil supplies, the PDS dealers said that owing to the delay in clearing the ‘closing balance’, the coarse rice has turned into a ‘powdery form’.
“Owing to the foul smell emanating from the rice bags, we are not even able to operate the business as usual, and even property owners have started questioning us. There is no space for new arrivals in the shops,” noted Naikoti Raju, president of the association, in the latest representation copy submitted to the authorities.
The civil supplies department on December 20 issued a tender notice inviting e-tenders for clearing stocks of 1.4 LMT of rice accumulated at different levels, including buffer godowns, MLS (Mandal Level Stock) points and FPSs. The value of the entire stock is estimated to be `350 crores.
Officials have denied that coarse rice stocks were damaged at buffer godowns and MLS points, as these are maintained by the department, which takes measures such as spraying pesticides and conducting regular checks. “There is a possibility of rice at FPSs getting infected, but at godowns and MLS points we ensure that the rice is protected from pests. About 1 LMT of stocks are at godowns, while the remaining stock of around 40,000 tonnes are at MLS points and FPSs. The bidding process for clearing the stocks is yet to begin, as there is still time for it,” clarified official sources.
