HYDERABAD: The social media-fuelled rumour of ‘plastic rice’ being sold in the city has finally begun taking a toll as the sale of rice has registered a 70 per cent drop for wholesale dealers in Hyderabad. This has also led to a 50 per cent drop in production at rice mills. This is despite the Civil Supplies department’s attempts to douse the rumours by debunking the claims of plastic rice being in city shops.
“We have witnessed a drop of 60 to 70 per cent sales over the week. Retail shop owners who buy from us are yet to get rid of their stocks. People are believing rumours and even the media is spreading fear among public,” said Siva Reddy Aluva, proprietor of Sambashiva Rice Traders, Yousufguda.
“There has been a 30 per cent drop in sales for me,” said Srikanth Reddy, owner of GJR Chaawal Wholesale And Retail Rice Distributor, Chikkadpalli. Both rice dealers attributed the drop to fake stories spreading via social media.
The rumours kicked off almost a month ago with a YouTube video wherein a ball of cooked rice was shown bouncing off the ground. The video claimed that the ball of rice bounced as it (rice) was made of plastic. The claim has been, however, debunked. But within days of the video being uploaded, its regional variants making the same claim of started gaining viewership. The hoax eventually went viral affecting the sale of rice in the city.
Civil supplies dept debunks rumours
The civil supplies department on Wednesday debunked the rumour by replicating the bouncing property using rice. The department conducted the test from samples collected based on a complaint.
“People are believing rumours and not the news. The finest quality of rice sells for Rs 60 a kg. Where is the logic of adding Rs 140 per kg worth of plastic to that? People should think before they believe anything,” said Srikanth.
While some rice millers say that their business has taken a hit, others claim there is no problem over the rumours of plastic rice. “We are not facing any problem, it’s business as usual and production at our mills are going on as usual,” said Pabba Balaiah, president, Hyderabad Rice Millers Association.
However, another member of the association said, “The rumour did affect as much as 25 to 30 per cent of rice sales across Telangana, leading to a drop in demand and this has in turn resulted in a 50 per cent drop in production.”