Telangana Minister warns against illegal rice hoarding and price hikes

Telangana Minister for Civil Supplies, Uttam Kumar Reddy, has issued a stern warning to traders engaging in illegal hoarding and black marketing to inflate rice prices. The government aims to ensure that BPT rice is sold at a maximum price of 66 rupees per kilogram to prevent financial burdens on consumers. Additionally, the government will review the pricing of RNR rice based on production costs and quality.

To enforce these regulations, a joint task force comprising officials from the Civil Supplies, Police, GST, and Legal Metrology departments has been deployed. Recent inspections in major markets across Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts have already resulted in 12 cases being registered against violators. The Minister emphasized that enforcement actions will continue until market prices stabilize.

Addressing public concerns, Reddy assured that the state maintains sufficient rice stocks and urged citizens not to engage in panic buying. He also encouraged the use of fine rice distributed through ration shops, noting that it is produced by local farmers and processed in local mills.