Paddy worth crores is rotting as it has been lying in the open due to a shortage of godowns, even as the rice millers have not lifted it following a dispute over transportation charges with the tribal development corporation (TDC) and FCI, official sources said.
The TDC has around 2.2 lakh quintals of paddy worth about `200 crore lying in the open at Gondia and Bhandara districts, which is now rotting due to the onset of the monsoon season. Sources added that 3 lakh quintals of additional paddy is lying similarly in Gadchiroli and Aheri regions; the paddy is not even suitable for cattle feed anymore.
The millers at Gondia, Bhandara, Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts are reluctant to lift the paddy, as they are demanding a hike in Custom Milling Rice (CMR) rates and pending transportation dues payment. Rice Millers Association, Gondia, secretary Ashok C. Agrawal said that since 2009, payment of around `70 crore was pending from the agencies and the government.
He said that in neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, the difference of amount for transportation was
borne by the respective state governments and that the millers also get their payments on time. Additionally, around 60 rice millers and Rice Millers Association, Gondia, have filed a petition in the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court regarding release of
pending payments; its first hearing is on June 17.
When contacted, TDC regional manager J.S. Rathore admitted that at many places, the procured paddy was lying in the open since they did not have sufficient godowns. “Though we have covered the paddy with tarpaulins and tied it, because of strong breeze and water we are unable to protect it completely. We have apprised our higher ups at the headquarters about the situation and sent a proposal for construction of 40-odd additional godowns,” Mr Rathore said.
On the pending transportation payment, he said, “We have some differences with the millers over the issue and are trying to put things in order.”