About 92 lakh tonnes of paddy has been purchased from farmers in Chhattisgarh this year. Out of this, 52.91 lakh tonnes of paddy has been procured from procurement centers. Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat on Tuesday reviewed the departmental preparations regarding custom milling of paddy purchased on support price and disposal of surplus paddy.
Minister Bhagat said that the Central Government has not yet issued an order in this regard, despite the in principle agreement to take 6 million tonnes of rice from Chhattisgarh. He said that if the central government does not increase the quota of rice taken from the state, then the state government will take action to remove surplus paddy.
Food Minister Bhagat said that the central government has so far issued an order to take 24 lakh tonnes of rice into the central pool. The state government is urging to increase it to 40 lakh tonnes. He said that the amount of rice procured by the central government in lieu of rice taken from Chhattisgarh is very high. If the central government does not increase the quota, then about 21 lakh tonnes of paddy surplus will be left in the state.