India: Visakhapatnam district authorities crack down on illegal PDS rice exports

• Three integrated check posts set up to block illegal trade
• Rice Sample Testing Laboratories tasked with ensuring compliance

The Visakhapatnam District Administration has taken a decisive step to curb the illegal export and recycling of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice. After an intensive round of high-level government instructions and review meetings Collector (Civil Supplies) and Additional District Magistrate, K. Mayur Ashok, issued orders for the establishment of three Integrated Check Posts with the primary aim to prevent illegal export of PDS rice under the guise of free-sale rice.

Strategic deployment, operational details

The decision to place check posts at specific locations was based on the recommendation of Customs officials. Sources highlighted that three Customs Freight Stations (CFSs)—Gateway CFS, Sravan CFS, and VPL Integral CFS—handle about 70% of rice exports in Visakhapatnam. The check posts will function at these three locations. The new operation is effective from 10 October, 2025. They will operate 24×7 across three shifts: 6:00 AM–2:00 PM (shift-1), 2:00 PM–10:00 PM (shift-2), and 10:00 PM–6:00 AM (shift-3).

Personnel drafted for these check post duties include checking inspectors from Revenue/Civil Supplies, technical assistants (TAs) of APSCSCL, Village Revenue Officers (VROs), and police personnel. The staff will work under the close supervision of the District Civil Supply Officer and Assistant Supply Officers. The Assistant Supply Officer, Circle I, is in charge of the Gateway CFS check post, while the Assistant Supply Officer, Circle 3, is in charge of the Sravan CFS and VPL Integral CFS check posts.

Compliance and enforcement

To ensure compliance, the District Civil Supply Manager, Visakhapatnam, must immediately arrange for the establishment of Rice Sample Testing Laboratories at all three check posts. The check posts will perform random checks of incoming vehicles.

Furthermore, exporters are now required to obtain a gate pass/NOC from the Civil Supplies Department. The Port Officer, Visakhapatnam, must ensure that the Port Security Force (SPF) strictly complies with the requirement to allow vehicles/cargo into the port premises only upon presentation of the Civil Supplies NOC, in addition to standard port permission documents.

The orders also mandate the creation of a Flying Squad Team with a vehicle to randomly check vehicles moving to the port. All staff must maintain registers and submit information regarding rice exports.