THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Civil Supplies Department has been trying to stop the smuggling of rice by taking various measures such as installing cameras in warehouses and installing GPS on trucks that carry grains. However, intermediaries are thwarting the plans of the Civil Supplies department by easily smuggling sacks of rice from ration shops just like picking flowers.

An investigation by 'Kerala Kaumudi' found that rice was being smuggled from ration shops in Thiruvananthapuram taluk. Footage which shows rice being smuggled from a ration shop in Pachalloor in broad daylight has also been obtained. There are indications that ration rice is being smuggled in other districts as well.

Following the installation of GPS on trucks, authorities are able to find if rice loaded in GPS-equipped lorry from the NFSA godown reaches the black market without reaching the ration shops. Hence, the trucks will go to the shops on time and unload the goods. Apart from this, unaccounted goods loaded from the godown will also be unloaded. These unaccounted surplus goods and the ration hoarded by the shop owners will be moved to the warehouses of private individuals in other vehicles.

There are officials in some offices who cater to black marketeers and swindlers. They will be paid the exact commission by the ration shop owners.

As soon as the ration rice reaches the private warehouse, it will be put in a new sack. If caught by police, those smuggling the rice will escape by claiming that these are different sacks. There are also complaints that some employees of the food department are catering to the smuggling of rations.