Chandigarh, July 30, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal today demanded immediate vacation of godowns storing last year’s rice in Punjab besides calling for rationalization of the milling policy to ensure Sheller owners did not face losses.
The Bathinda MP, who raised this issue during zero hour in parliament, said rice from the 2023-24 season was still lying in godowns because the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had not been able to transfer it out of the State by arranging the necessary rakes.
She called for immediate transfer of the rice from the godowns so that space could be created to store the forthcoming paddy crop which would be harvested in the next two months.
Asserting that the faulty policies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government were responsible for this, Mrs Harsimrat Badal said milling of paddy which was to start in November started in January because of the government’s failure to select fortified rice kernel manufacturers.
She said the last date for milling of the paddy crop was July 31 but 15 lakh tonnes still remained to be delivered. She appealed that the date of delivery be extended by one month to August 31.
Similarly, Mrs Badal said rice milled from early varieties of paddy was less than the standard varieties. She said the average milling ratio was 62 kilogram per quintal from early varieties which was much less than the 67 kg ratio approved by FCI. She appealed to reset this ratio to ensure millers did not lose out.
The Bathinda MP also pointed out that the milling rates had also been reduced and even rebate on account of dryness of rice had been reduced from one per cent to .50 per cent. She said industry usage charges of gunny bags had also been reduced from Rs 8 to Rs 4.32.
She said due to these anti sheller industry policies 2,000 existing mills and around 700 newly established rice mills were in financial distress and might stop operations adversely affecting the Sheller industry in the State. EOM
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