15 DAYS ON, PADDY PROCUREMENT UNSATISFACTORY IN BALANGIR DIST

15 DAYS ON, PADDY PROCUREMENT UNSATISFACTORY IN BALANGIR DIST

Thursday, 23 November 2017 | PNS | BALANGIR | in Bhubaneswar

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Even as 15 days have passed since the process of procurement of Kharif paddy began at PACS-run mandis in Balangir district, significant quantity of paddy has not been purchased as yet, thanks to the strike by Secretaries of PACS, which was lifted only on November 19.

As per the decision taken in the district-level paddy procurement committee, paddy would be procured from farmers at mandis of 156 PACS.

Majority of the mandis have no adequate infrastructure to reduce the “exploitation of farmers” and leaving enough scope for exploitation of farmers by miller’s.

According to sources, 56 out of 61 rice mills have signed agreement papers with Civil Supplies Corporation to participate in the paddy procurement process in 2017.

However, some of the mills have hiked capacity to produce rice in the mills from two to six tonnes and from six to 12 tonnes, according to papers given to Civil Supplies authority. The hike in the capacity would enable the rice millers to participate in the paddy procurement process in other districts and creates scope for manipulation and rice recycling, alleged many.

As per the rules, if a rice mill hikes its capacity, the concerned mill owner has to intimate and take approval from electricity department, District Industry Center, Pollution Control Board, Factories and Broilers wing of electricity department6 and has to pay taxes for the purchase of new equipment.

Rules and provisions of different Acts have been breached more than followed in this regard. A thorough inquiry should be undertaken in this regard, opined a local here.

“We usually ask for security deposits and papers of the rice milld when they hike their capacity. We attach more importance on security deposits. In case of a complaint, we will enquire into the allegation,” said in-charge Civil Supplies Officer B Kar.