Police Seize 1.5 Tonnes of PDS Rice Near Ambur, Arrest Mill Owner

Quick Summary:

• A total of 1.5 tonnes of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice was seized from a flour mill at Arasampatti village near Ambur, Tirupattur district, on sunday.
• The operation was conducted by a team led by the Vaniyambadi Taluk Supply Officer (TSO), following instructions from Collector K. Siva Soundaravalli to curb PDS rice smuggling in the region.
• During an inspection, several bags of PDS rice were discovered at the mill and afterward sent to a Department of Civil Supplies godown in tirupattur.
• Police revealed the smuggled rice was intended for Andhra Pradesh wholesalers for resale purposes.
• Flour mill owner S.Babu (aged 48) has been arrested; investigations are ongoing to trace the source and distribution network.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The seizure highlights persistent challenges in safeguarding India’s essential commodity supply chains like PDS, which aim to support vulnerable communities. Smuggling undermines public welfare schemes and necessitates stricter enforcement actions. Efficient monitoring systems coupled with inter-state coordination seem crucial given the interstate nature of smuggling attempts uncovered here-Tamil Nadu’s PDS rice being rerouted to Andhra Pradesh wholesalers signals gaps requiring immediate action. ensuring accountability among local operators is equally essential for promoting transparency within these systems.

For further details, visit The Hindu