Chhattisgarh: Baghel Writes to the Union Food Ministers Seeking Permission for Rice Procurement

Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday wrote a letter to Piyush Goyal, who is the Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Baghel, through the letter to Goyal, has requested him to grant permission for the procurement respectively 26 lakh metric tons and 14 lakh metric tons of Usna and Arwa rice, which will take place under the supervision of the Food Corporation of India, in the Kharif Marketing Year 2020-’21.

According to Baghel, the Central Government has already granted in-principal permission to deposit 60 lakh metric tons rice post the custom milling of the paddy that is likely to be procured during the Kharif Marketing Year 2020-’21, but the state was unable to deposit rice through the FCI program, as it lacked a proper order from the Centre. 

“In the Kharif marketing year 2020-’21, the Government of India has agreed to provide only 1.45 lakh new jute gunny bags to the state against the requirement of the 3.50 lakh new jute gunny bags, but out of these, only 1.05 lakh bags have been received by the state”, wrote Baghel.

Adding, “Due to lack of order to deposit custom milling rice in Food Corporation of India, there has also been a shortage of gunny bags received from miller after milling. Due to which, despite adequate alternative efforts of the State Government, the situation of procurement of paddy at the MSP is affected”. 

Baghel also reminded the Union Minister about the back-to-back discussions between the State of Chhattisgarh and the Centre on the issues, when Goyal had assured the Chhattisgarh CM of releasing an order soon. Baghel, in his letter, also added that proper permission has not been granted yet from the Centre regarding the issues.