Telangana, Andhra agree to phased handover of civil supplies assets; cooperate on rice exports

Hyderabad: Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have agreed to a phased handover of civil supplies assets that have remained in administrative limbo since the reorganisation of the two states in 2014.

The agreement was reached during a high-level meeting between Telangana Civil Supplies Minister Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart, Nandela Manohar, at the Civil Supplies Bhavan in Hyderabad.

At the core of the talks was the formal handover of half of the Civil Supplies Bhavan—currently allocated to the Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Corporation but lying idle—to Telangana. From June, the Telangana Civil Supplies Corporation will assume full control of the facility.

“Other properties of the undivided Civil Supplies Corporation located within Telangana will also be transferred gradually,” Uttam Kumar Reddy said after the meeting, thanking Andhra Pradesh officials for their cooperation.

Boost to rice exports and inter-state collaboration

The ministers also underscored deepening cooperation on rice exports. Telangana has started exporting rice to the Philippines via Kakinada Port with logistical support from Andhra Pradesh. Manohar offered further access to Visakhapatnam and Krishnapatnam ports for upcoming consignments.

“This is about shared growth, not jurisdiction. Our ports are open to support Telangana’s exports,” Manohar affirmed.

Joint action on PDS leakages

Addressing a persistent concern, both states agreed to set up joint surveillance mechanisms and real-time data sharing to curb the diversion of Public Distribution System (PDS) rice across borders—an issue that has undermined food security programs.

Andhra Pradesh is also looking to adopt Telangana’s innovations in Aadhaar-based ration systems, PDF-linked cards, and grain tracking.

Technology, transparency, and consumer focus

Both governments pledged to adopt best practices from each other in warehousing, pricing transparency, and delivery systems. They also agreed to promote affordable, fortified rice varieties that meet both nutritional and consumer preferences. “This is about building systems that serve the people,” said Uttam Kumar Reddy.

Personal touch underscores political will

In a moment of camaraderie, Uttam Kumar Reddy described Nandela Manohar as a childhood friend and lauded his role in the historic Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Manohar called the meeting a blend of policy and personal trust, saying, “This isn’t just an agreement—it’s a model of cooperative federalism.”