VIgilance finds corruption in Supplyco rice procurement

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The vigilance conducted ‘operation rice bowl’ in the state has opened up the long-shrouded scam behind the veil of rice procurement. The quantity of the procured rice is adulterated and the base price set by the government has also been tampered with. Supplyco marketing officers and the paddy marketing officers do the lion's share of the corruption in rice procurement.

In Neyyatinkara, one farmer faked 65 cents of land as 4 acres to avail subsidy from Supplyco. In the Kottayam paddy marketing office, the farmer and the agents involved in illegal business stock up to near to 8 quintals of rice. Many farmers meanwhile are providing fake land details to avail subsidy from Supplyco which is being provided with no clear search or inspection.

In Ernakulam, a 3.3-acre land registered for rice farming while on inspection was just found to be 2.5 acres. While in Palakkad, the mill quality control found a 20000-kilo rice below the required standard level. However, in a hastened move, the rice was taken quickly to Ernakulam head office, where it was marked standard. The agents working in this division were reported as not providing receipts to farmers.

In Kottayam mill, the stocked rice is sent via the borders to Tamil Nadu as surekha or other famed brands in a game of trickery.