CM asks Centre to procure 18 LMT paddy over and above the agreed quantity

The State Government has requested the Union Food and Public Distribution Ministry to direct the Food Corporation of India to procure 18 lakh metric tonne paddy over and above the 53.73 lakh metric tonne assured during Kharif season.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy who called on Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi on Thursday explained that though it was agreed that the FCI would procure 53.73 LMT earlier, the State Government had to procure 18 LMT additionally from farmers owing to the bumper crop. The Centre should therefore procure the additional quantity allowing 10% brokens.

The Centre should allow custom milling of 10 LMT of boiled rice pertaining to Rabi season (2024-25) with 5% brokens. Steps should also be initiated to extend the February 28 deadline set for paddy cultivated during Kharif 2024-25 by two months.

The Chief Minister, who was accompanied by the Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, requested Mr. Pralhad Joshi to release ₹1,468.94 crore dues of 2014-15 pending payment to the State. The State Government bore the cost pertaining to additional levy in 2014-15 mobilising the required amount through loans and the interest on this loan crossed ₹2,000 crore till date.

He urged the Union Minister to take steps to release ₹343.27 crore dues to Telangana on account of supply of additional quantity of rice between May 2021 to March 2022 under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana.