Uttam Acts Tough

Cracks the whip on rice mills, launches state-wide inspections

■  Telangana government launches state-wide inspections of rice mills to verify pending Custom Milling Rice (CMR) deliveries and prevent paddy diversion.

■  Ministers warn of strict accountability; criminal cases will be filed against millers if discrepancies or diversions are found.

■  Around 30% of 74 lakh metric tonnes of Rabi season paddy remains undelivered; task forces and FCI teams conducting independent stock verification.

■  Similar scrutiny initiated for 2025 Kharif season to ensure timely delivery and prevent manipulation.

metro india news  I hyderabad

With the February 28 deadline for Custom Milling Rice (CMR) supply fast approaching, Civil Supplies and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has initiated a state-wide crackdown on rice mills amid serious concerns over pending deliveries and allegations of paddy stock diversion. Making it clear that the government will no longer tolerate irregularities, the minister has ordered extensive inspections by special task force teams as well as separate teams from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to verify physical stocks across Telangana.

The action follows mounting allegations that significant quantities of paddy supplied to mills for custom milling are either unaccounted for or being mismanaged. Determined to overhaul and cleanse the Civil Supplies Department, the minister has adopted a strict monitoring mechanism to ensure that every grain procured by the government is accounted for.

During the 2024 Rabi season, the state government procured approximately 74 lakh metric tonnes of paddy through 8,378 procurement centres across Telangana. The entire quantity was allocated to rice mills for milling into CMR and subsequent delivery to government godowns. However, officials confirm that only about 70 per cent of the expected rice has been delivered so far, leaving nearly 30 per cent still pending.

The deadline for supplying CMR from the 2024 Rabi season ends on February 28. With a substantial portion yet to be delivered, millers have approached the government seeking an extension. During his recent visit to New Delhi, Uttam Kumar Reddy requested the Centre to grant an additional two months for the 2024 Rabi CMR supply. However, central officials have clearly stated that any extension would depend on verified confirmation of the availability of physical stocks at the mill level.

In response, the minister has issued explicit instructions for comprehensive stock verification. Task force teams have been directed to determine mill-wise allocations of paddy, quantify the CMR already supplied, and verify whether the remaining balance is physically present at the respective mills. The inspections aim to conclusively establish whether the pending 30 per cent of paddy from the Rabi season still exists or has been diverted.

To prevent any local influence or undue pressure, inspection teams have been instructed not to conduct checks within their home districts. Instead, district task force teams are being deployed to inspect mills in other districts. The minister has also directed officials to decline any hospitality or favours from millers during inspections. Teams are making independent arrangements to carry out surprise and impartial checks.

Uttam Kumar Reddy has warned that if discrepancies are found and paddy stocks are missing, criminal cases will be registered against the concerned millers without hesitation. The message from the government is clear: accountability will be strictly enforced, and any attempt to manipulate the public procurement system will invite legal consequences.

Parallel to the task force operations, FCI teams have also begun their own inspection drive. These checks are being conducted independently to ensure transparency and cross-verification of stock positions. The scrutiny covers not only the 2024 Rabi season but also the 2025 Kharif season.

In the 2025 Kharif season, the government procured 71.8 lakh metric tonnes of paddy. However, so far, millers have supplied only 10 to 15 per cent of the required CMR from this procurement. Although the deadline for full CMR delivery for the Kharif season is still some time away, the government believes that continuous and periodic inspections are essential to prevent any potential diversion of stocks.

Officials say that by increasing surveillance and tightening monitoring mechanisms, the Civil Supplies Department aims to plug loopholes and restore confidence in the procurement and milling system. The minister’s strategy is based on proactive verification rather than waiting until deadlines lapse.

With dual inspections by task force and FCI teams underway, the government is working to obtain a clear, mill-wise assessment of paddy allocations, CMR supplied, and balance stocks. The findings of these inspections will determine whether the Centre grants the requested two-month extension for Rabi CMR delivery.

Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy’s decisive intervention signals a tougher regulatory regime for rice millers in Telangana. By intensifying oversight and enforcing strict compliance, the state government hopes to prevent stock manipulation, safeguard public resources, and ensure timely delivery of rice to government godowns and the public distribution system.