The Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is keen on taking essential commodities like rice and other products to the common man.
Food Minister R. Kamaraj said that four warehouses with a storage capacity of 1000 metric tonnes each would be built at Perayur, Thoppur, Kappalur and Vadipatti in Madurai district soon.
Presiding over a review meeting at the District Collector’s office in the presence of Cooperatives Minister Sellur K. Raju, senior officials from the TN Food Ministry and Collector Anshul Mishra, he said that the warehouses would primarily facilitate quick movement of essential commodities and remain as a buffer point for this region.
The Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is keen on taking essential commodities like rice and other products to the common man.
Under no circumstances, smuggling of these goods would be tolerated by the government.
Since May 16, 2011 to July 22, 2012, 10,562 cases were registered against persons who smuggled essentials across the State.
After investigations, 248 were arrested under various charges.
Be tough
The officials should be firm and tough in handling smugglers, who indulged in anti-people act.
A coordinated and intensified operation by the food cell wing, civil supplies and cooperation department would discourage law offenders, the minister pointed out.
At a time when the government is keen to send essential products to the masses and the needy in the society, activities against smuggling should be tightened, especially on borders, which would ensure achieving the goal.
Consumers can contact the following mobile numbers and lodge their complaints/ grievances and suggestions at the office, which functioned at Chennai Commissionerate.
The numbers are as follows: 9445464748, 044-28592828, 7200018001, 7200048002, 8680018002, 8680028003, 7299998002, 7299008002.
Rice stock
Mr. Kamaraj reviewed the stock position of paddy procured from farmers through the direct procurement centres in Madurai district and the quality of the same.
The officials replied that through 12 authorised private rice mills and from the government run rice mill at Kadachanendal, they moved rice to ration shops.
The free rice offered to the eligible public was of good quality.
The complaints were attended to then and there.
The stocks of other essential commodities like black gram, millets and oil palm were moved as and when the district required.
Through the State run warehouses, the government had a net stock of 10 lakh metric tonnes of rice and in the Union government operated FCI (Food Corporation of India) warehouses, there was another 10 lakh metric tonnes of rice for our use, and officials informed the meeting.
Earlier, the minister inspected the TNCSC warehouse at Melur and also a ration shop in the vicinity, a press release said.
Keywords: warehouses in Madurai, Sellur K. Raju, TNCSC warehouse
