THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a meeting between Food Minister, GR Anil, and Transport Minister, Antony Raju, it is decided to give uniform color pattern to vehicles transporting food items from Civil Supplies go-down to ration shops to prevent theft of food items. The vehicles will be painted red at the top and yellow at the bottom.

This is done to prevent the transport of grains from go-downs to black markets. 736 vehicles on contract transport food items. The color change will be implemented at new year.

Though there is rice theft from go-downs, the investigation has not reached anywhere. During lockdown, there was widespread theft of ration rice and wheat from Civil Supplies go-down across the state. The investigation into it was stopped halfway.

Last year in July, 41,200 kg of rice and 15,450 kg of wheat stored at go-down in Valiyathura went missing. In the following investigations by the Vigilance, it was found that rice and wheat have been stolen from other go-downs as well. But there were no follow up investigations into it.