Food and Civil Supplies Minister P. Venkataramanan on Saturday said any complaints of smuggling or adulteration of essential commodities such as rice by smugglers would be viewed seriously and stern action initiated.

The Minister was here to check a godown at P.C. Patti, where Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) had a storage facility. Theni Collector Vaithinathan and other senior officials accompanied the Minister.

He also visited TNCSC godowns at Bodinayakkanur, Upparpatti and Uthamapalayam to directly check the facilities.

Following complaints that card holders received substandard rice at some Public Distribution System (PDS) outlets, Mr. Venkataramanan inspected the godown and other infrastructure. He suggested intensification of surveillance, especially on Tamil Nadu-Kerala border, where smuggling of ration rice was reported, officials said.

“Our government will not remain a mute spectator to complaints from the public or whistle-blowers. We should serve the common man, and there will not be any corruption at check-posts,” the Minister warned.

After a fire broke out at a godown in Tenkasi district recently, where several bags of rice was destroyed, the Minister said the government was examining introduction of technology-aided warehouses, which would be a kind of all-weather storage system to protect the produce.

Mr. Venkataramanan also urged the officials to look into complaints of adulteration and take swift action. Any loose ends should be tightened at the earliest and the message that the government was pro-active should reach the violators.

Requests to sell coconut and coconut oil in ration shops would be considered positively, he added.

Further, the number of direct procurement centres (DPCs) would be increased in a phased manner in Theni district. “We will replace 15 temporary DPCs with permanent ones. The objective should be that every farmer is able to sell his/her produce at the DPCs with ease. The government is open to any idea, which can be implemented,” he said.

Later speaking to reporters, he said the people were convinced with the TVK Government and the manner of functioning of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. “You will see the response in the ensuing by-polls, including in Tiruchi East, where the people will extend their support wholeheartedly to the TVK.”

Already, many people were responding in a positive way to the absence of corruption, red-tapism, among others, he added.

Published - July 11, 2026 05:30 pm IST