THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister GR Anil has discovered and revoked an order issued by the Civil Supplies officials succouring the mill owners. The order had helped the mill owners to sell the rice obtained from government-procured paddy in the market instead of providing it to the ration shops. Instead of good quality rice, old and rotten rice was provided to the ration shops.
On December 3, managers of warehouses were instructed in writing that the mill owners would not be responsible for the quality of the rice and that the three-month guarantee period was waived.
It was made clear that the decision was taken following an agreement reached between Minister GR Anil and the mill owners on August 27. Officials took advantage of the minister's statement that the demands of the mill owners would be considered.
As the price of Matta rice spiked in the open market, mill owners sold a large portion of the rice in the markets and instead mixed adulterated rice with the rice for the ration shops.
Minister Anil ordered an inspection at a ration shop in Neyyattinkara after a cardholder complained that he got stale rice from the shop. Following this, adulteration was confirmed in 27 sacks of rice in the shop as well as in the stock in the warehouse in Aluva. That is when the minister came to know about the order issued by the Civil Supplies officials cancelling quality conditions. The Minister immediately directed that a new order be issued restoring the old provisions. Action will be taken against those who issued the order.
64.5 kg of rice per 100 kg of paddy
Special team to certify
Former Food Minister P Thilothaman had appointed a special team to inspect the mills two years ago after the Vigilance and Food Safety Commission found out that rice was being adulterated. Following this, only those sacks of rice certified by this team in the mills were delivered to the warehouses. The officers have sabotaged this process.