Tamil Nadu seizes 71 tonnes of diverted PDS rice destined for export

Officials from the Civil Supplies Department seized approximately 71 tonnes of PDS rice near Katpadi on the Chennai-Bengaluru highway, authorities said on Tuesday. The consignment had been loaded at a private rice mill on the outskirts of Bengaluru and was en route to Chennai Port for shipment, according to preliminary investigations.

The interception marks the latest in a series of operations aimed at preventing the diversion of subsidized foodgrains from state distribution networks. PDS rice is allocated to eligible households at controlled prices and is not authorized for commercial export or private sale.

Civil Supplies officials have initiated a formal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the consignment's movement. Investigators are examining the documentation trail to identify the parties involved in arranging the transport and determining the intended destination of the shipment.

The seizure comes amid ongoing concerns about leakages in the public distribution system across South India. Authorities have intensified inspections at key transit points and ports to curb unauthorized movement of subsidized foodgrains.