Mon Dec 09 22:49:50 UTC 2024: ## Andhra Pradesh’s Rations Rice Mafia Defies Government Crackdown
**Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh:** Despite the Andhra Pradesh government classifying the illegal trafficking of ration rice as organized crime, a well-established mafia continues to operate across the state. Thousands of sacks of rice are being illegally transported and stored in mills, then exported to other states and even overseas.
The government’s efforts to curb the problem are being hampered by alleged complicity within the system. Reports indicate that YSRCP leaders from the previous government are leading the mafia, paying bribes to police and revenue officials, and influencing local politicians. Monthly payments ensure the continued operation of the racket.
Recent seizures highlight the scale of the problem. In December, 1,500 sacks were confiscated in Naguluppalapadu Mandal, Prakasam district, following several previous seizures at the same mill totaling over 6,000 sacks. Minister Nadeendla Manohar recently discovered 483 tons of ration rice at a Visakhapatnam freight station. Similar large-scale seizures have been reported in Palnadu and Guntur districts. Investigations reveal a significant smuggling operation from Bapatla district to Maharashtra and other states. Three lorries were recently intercepted near Kavali in Nellore district, and police in Nalgonda seized rice traced back to Bapatla mills, with an estimated 10-15 lorries being transported monthly. Vigilance teams have also made numerous seizures.
The government’s response of filing Section 6(A) cases is proving ineffective, as the mafia remains undeterred. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) recently formed has so far been limited to cases registered in Kakinada, despite the state-wide nature of the problem. Experts suggest that expanding the SIT’s jurisdiction and investigating complicit officials, alongside the traffickers, is crucial to effectively combating this widespread crime. The practice of recycling ration rice, repackaging it as CMR (Custom Milled Rice) and resupplying it to the Public Distribution System is a key element of the scam. Better monitoring of electricity usage in mills could help detect such practices.
The lack of action against corrupt officials and the immediate release of vehicles seized on the basis of political recommendations further fuels the problem. Even with fortified rice clearly visible, authorities sometimes claim it is not ration rice, allowing the illegal recycling and export to continue. Unless the government takes a stronger, more wide-ranging approach, the illegal trafficking of ration rice is unlikely to end.
First Piper 