TIRUPUR: Food Minister E.V. Velu on Friday said that the smuggling of rice meant for public distribution system to neighbouring States was under check.
He told reporters here that the Government was taking adequate efforts to prevent the rice smuggling.
Mr. Velu said that the off-take of rice for PDS shops had come down to 2.22 lakh tonnes in June 2007 from 2.52 lakh tonnes in June 2006 in the State and this was because of extensive checks by authorities in all the border districts.
The Minister said that a total of 5,598 cases had been registered in the last seven months and 36 persons had been detained under the Goondas Act and the Prevention of Smuggling of Essential Commodities Act.
A total of 469 vehicles that involved in rice smuggling were seized by the authorities besides recovering rice worth Rs. 7.92 crore, the Minister added.
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