Members in the State Assembly across party lines on Wednesday expressed resentments over irregularities and delay in paddy procurement in the State Assembly to which Speaker directed the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister to resolve the issue and submit a report in the House soon.
While responding to three separate questions of Mukesh Mahaling (BJP) Dr Nrusingha Charan Sahoo (BJD) and Santosh Singh Saluja and many other members during Question Hour, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister said 43.39 lakh metric tonne paddy out of targeted 50 lakh metric tonne for 2019-20 Kharif season were procured by January 13. Farmers, who have not sold paddy yet for different reasons, would be given another chance to sell the crop. Token has been issued to 8,13,636 farmers. However, members alleged the reality of paddy procurement is different from what the Minister claims.
“I have received so many complaints from farmers that paddy is not being procured from them by mandis until the miller doesn’t reach there,” alleged Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingh Mishra.
During Zero Hour, BJD MLA Bhupindra Singh alleged that may of farmers have not received tokens and those who have got tokens have not been able to sell out all their produce due to limitation of procurement from individual farmers.
BJP member Jayanarayan Mishra said the token system has disturbed paddy procurement in the State. Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik demanded a ruling from the Speaker asking the Government to procure all paddy from the farmers.
Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro directed the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister to hold meetings at district level with MLAs and Government officers and resolve the issue at the earliest. He too asked the Minister to make a statement in the House soon.
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