570 people held in Karnataka for illegal hoarding, sale of 'Anna Bhagya' rice: Minister
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Minister K H Muniyappa on Monday informed the Legislative Council that 570 people across the state have been arrested for the illegal hoarding and sale of rice intended for the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme.
The Minister, who holds the Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology portfolio, was replying to a starred question by MLC C T Ravi at the ongoing session in Suvarna Soudha here.
Ravi alleged that the Anna Bhagya rice is being smuggled to Singapore and Dubai, where it is being sold at a higher price.
According to the BJP MLC, the 10 kg rice, which is distributed in Karnataka free of cost to individuals belonging to the Below Poverty Line, is sold for prices ranging between Rs 1,500 to Rs 8,000.
The rice for the BPL families is polished in the rice mills and sold in foreign countries.
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Responding to the charge, the Minister said 29,603.15 quintals of illegally traded rice has been seized and 314 vehicles used in the operations have been confiscated.
In Yadgir district, officers from other departments who had been serving in the Food Department have been relieved of their duty, while the KFCSC warehouse in Gangavati taluk of Koppal district has been suspended.
He said officers and field staff have been instructed to conduct regular supervision to curb illegal storage and sale of ration rice, adding that criminal cases are being registered under the “Essential Commodities Act, 1955.”
The Minister warned that if ration cardholders are found misusing ration rice, their ration cards will be cancelled and action will follow as per rules.
He said, “Vigilance committees have been formed at the fair-price shop, taluk, district and State levels to oversee ration distribution.”
Muniyappa added that monthly ‘Food Adalats’ are being held at the fair-price shop level to create awareness among beneficiaries, and that a State-level ‘Food Vigilance Squad’ has been constituted to act against violations as per norms.
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Amid blistering heat in coastal areas, Udupi DC urges precautionary measures
Udupi: Amid rising temperatures across coastal districts this summer, Udupi Deputy Commissioner Swaroopa T.K. has urged the public to take necessary precautionary measures.
Chairing a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority at the District Collectorate Hall, Rajatadri in Manipal on Tuesday, she said that people must be made aware of the risks associated with excessive heat.
She stressed the need for caution against dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, which are common during extreme weather conditions.
The Deputy Commissioner noted that heatstroke can have serious adverse effects on human health and urged the public to follow precautionary measures issued by the District Disaster Management Authority.
She directed health department officials to ensure adequate stocks of ORS and other essential medicines at all health centres to tackle heat-related illnesses. She also instructed authorities to provide clean drinking water in crowded places such as markets, bus stands and railway stations.
Immediate steps should be taken to address drinking water shortages during the summer, she said. At present, there is no shortage of fodder for cattle in the district, with sufficient stock available for the next 39 weeks across all taluks.
Highlighting the increased risk of fire accidents during summer, the Deputy Commissioner called for regular inspections of fire safety measures in hospitals, industries and other crowded places. She emphasised the need for preparedness to respond swiftly in case of fire emergencies.
Expressing dissatisfaction over delays in conducting fire safety audits despite instructions issued in the previous meeting, she directed fire department officials to complete the audits at the earliest and submit a report.
Swaroopa also instructed taluk-level task force committees to hold regular meetings and ensure there are no disruptions in drinking water supply. She added that a district-level committee has been formed under her chairmanship to handle emergencies such as oil spills, and members should be well-informed about response plans.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Abid Gadyal, ASP Sudhakar Nayak, Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary, Assistant Commissioner Rashmi, Municipal Commissioner Mahantesh Hangargi, and other district officials and tahsildars were present.
The Deputy Commissioner furthermore stressed that any issues related to drinking water supply for people and livestock in both urban and rural areas must be addressed on priority. In areas already facing shortages, borewells should be identified and water should be supplied through tankers.
She also directed that strict measures be taken to prevent the supply of contaminated water and that regular water quality testing be made mandatory.
“There are several adverse effects of extreme temperatures. Awareness should be created among both urban and rural populations through posters, banners and public announcements on the precautions to be taken. This will help safeguard public health,” Swaroopa said.
