Rapid Kits To Check PDS Rice Smuggling: Minister

Visakhapatnam: Civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar announced the launch of rapid kits to check illegal transportation of PDS rice to local markets and foreign countries. Addressing a press conference in Visakhapatnam on Monday, the minister said three checkpoints – one at Gajuwaka and two near the port at Sheelanagar in Visakhapatnam – have been set up to check illegal transport of PDS. He said that 33 people carrying these rapid kits will work at the checkpoints around the clock.

Similar checkpoints have also been opened near Kakinada port. He said the purpose of these kits is to provide a rapid and cost-effective method to detect the presence of fortified rice grains in PDS rice diverted or used for unauthorized activities. He said that 700 kits containing hydrogen chloride solution and potassium thiocyanate solution were distributed to civil supplies department officials in all districts.

“Upon spraying these two solutions on five grams of rice, the fortified rice grains turn red, dark red and black after drying, indicating the presence of fortified rice grains. The entire procedure takes less than five minutes,” the minister said. The minister said his department has initiated several reforms that no other state in the country has implemented. He said his ministry seized 5.56 lakh quintals of rice worth `245 lakh. While the previous government had seized Rs five lakh in five years, crores have been seized in the last one and a half years. This government has registered 230 criminal cases against criminals, he added. He said so far 4.42 crore smart rice cards have been issued to beneficiaries in the state and 89 per cent of them have benefited from rice supply from 29,752 PDS depots across the state.