Post News Network
Sambalpur, Jan 8: Paddy traders of Sambalpur and Bargarh districts,
collecting paddy from Chhattisgarh, are allegedly laughing all the way to the bank by supplying it to the rice millers, while the poor farmers of western Orissa are in the lurch.
The farmers, after failing to sell their produce in the paddy procurement centres, are often found resorting to
distress sale. Unscrupulous traders allegedly collect the identity cards of small and marginal farmers to run their business.
The check gates of the regulated market committee (RMC) in both the districts have failed to prevent the
influx of paddy from outside, the
farmers alleged. A huge racket is
working behind it, they said.
The administration is all set to wind up its paddy collection process of ongoing kharif season within two to three weeks. The farmers end up getting exploited by the traders if the process is closed in the name of target fulfillment, the farmers said and sought a high-level probe into the incident.
Reports said, Bargarh district is connected to Chhattisgarh and a check gate exists at Luhurachati on Bargarh-Raipur road. While excise duties and sales tax are collected at the gate, paddy consignments enter Bargarh without any hitch. The RMC gate at Saradhapali on Sohela-Padampur road fails to prevent such incursion.
Similarly, men deployed in the gates at Ruchida and Badadhara Chhaks on Ambabhona-Rayagada road also allegedly let go the paddy trucks without proper verification in connivance with top officials of the department. Though Sambalpur district has no direct link with the other states, illegal paddy supply has increased from Subarnapur, Deogarh, Boudh, Angul and Jharsuguda sides. The farmers’
representatives raised the issue in the last meeting of the district paddy
collection committee, but in vain.
The farmers of Kuchinda and Rairakhol sub-division of Sambalpur are yet to sell their 40 per cent of produce and dishonest traders are eyeing to cash in on the opportunity, a report said. Paschima Orissa Krushak Sangathan Samanwaya Samiti convener Ashok Pradhan said some changes were made in the paddy
collection process this year to prevent distress sale of paddy, but it failed to prevent the flaws.
“I have not received any complaint about the inflow of paddy from other states. Strong action would be taken if such complaints are received,”
sub-collector and RMC chairman Bimalendu Roy said.
