Telangana Tightens Vigil on Paddy Procurement, Milling to Protect Farmers: Uttam

The State government has therefore initiated a comprehensive review of the paddy procurement and custom milling system, along with strict enforcement measures against any misappropriation of government stocks.

A high-level review meeting has been convened under the chairmanship of the Minister for Irrigation, Food and Civil Supplies N Uttam Kumar Reddy to examine every aspect of procurement, storage, milling, delivery of rice, recovery of the government dues and legal action against defaulting rice mills.

This review is not directed against the rice milling industry as a whole. Telangana has hundreds of rice millers who have worked honestly with the government over many decades and have contributed significantly to the State’s agricultural economy and the Public Distribution System (PDS). The government values their cooperation.

However, it is equally true that a section of millers has, over many years, violated the trust reposed in them by the Government. These violations have resulted in enormous financial losses to the State and have ultimately affected public finances that belong to the people of Telangana.