Enforcement activity from civil supplies side is in full swing in Rayagada with the administration conducting raids on rice millers with active support of district police. Raids were conducted in Rayagada, Gunupur and Muniguda on more than 10 rice mills. A good amount of rice meant for PDS was siezed. In one mill itself more than 5000 bags were siezed. Prima facie it was revealed that subsidised rice from not only Rayagada, but also from neighbouring district of Koraput ( narayanpatna, Bamdhugaon and Laxmipur) and from Andhra Pradesh is smuggled and dispatched from Rayagada, which acts as a hub for interstate blackmarketing of PDS. Rice bags from the supplies dept of Haryana were found in one mill, which indicates of an interstate network. Cases are being booked under EC act and the district administration has promised stringent action against the offenders. The raids come at a time when paddy procurement is to begin. This encforcement drive will surely help to curb the malpractices in the procurement system and help achieve the goal of providing the farmers their rightful entitlement in form of MSP and break the cycle of piferage of essential commidities.
