Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday directed officials of the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare (FSCW) department to take stern action against millers who have not delivered rice against the allotted paddy stock within the deadline.
The CM was reviewing the paddy procurement in the state at Secretariat Wednesday. The FSCW department had earlier identified 81 defaulting millers and has stopped supply of rice to them as they had failed to return the same, against the paddy stock they had been allotted previously.
As per the provisions, the millers have to return the rice against the paddy stock within two months. The FSCW department is in the process of initiating legal action against the defaulting millers in case of further delay, sources said. While the target for Kharif 2017-18 is 56 lakh tonne this year the state government is hopeful that the procurement will cross 70 lakh tonnes.
The review meeting was informed that as of January 9 this Kharif season 11.05 lakh farmers have registered themselves to take part in the procurement. The number was 9.76 lakh during the orresponding period in last kharif.
Officials said that the state government has already procured 17.90 lakh tonne paddy from the farmers and has paid `2356.75 crore to them. Three lakh farmers have sold their paddy so far, they added.
During the meeting the Chief Minister asked official to ensure inclusion of more small and marginal farmers in the procurement process.
PNN
