CHANDIGARH, SEPTEMBER 30: Even as the department seized 12,000 bags of rice illegally stored at a sheller in Kapurthala today, the Food Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that anyone found involved in the illegal act will be strongly dealt with as per law.
Issuing a stern warning to those indulging in bogus milling of paddy, the Minister also directed the department to increase vigil over these spurious elements with paddy season just around the corner.
The department team had raided Gopal Rice Mill, Kapurthala, and had seized 12,000 bags of rice worth Rs 2 Crores, the Minister said adding that this quantity was likely to be passed off as shelled rice during the ensuing Kharif season.
The miller used to sell this rice meant for public distribution in other states through PDS to private millers which will not be tolerated, the Minister added.
He said that 4000 bags of rice and 3800 bags of permal were also recovered in a raid at Shri Krishna Rice Mill in Kotkapura today.
In the last week, 42161 bags of rice/paddy have been recovered of which 23000 bags were seized from Kissan Industries Jalalabad Fazilka
1336 bags from Vasudev Rice Mill, 1112 bags from Golden Rice Mill Bagha Purana. Besides this, 6953 bags of Nakku, and 6060 bags of rejected rice were also recovered. Similarly, 3000 bags of Nakku rice and 700 bags of rejected rice were recovered from Bawa Rice Mill.