Cong MLA gives representation in prajavani on paddy procurement

Choppadandi MLA Medipally Satyam urged Karimnagar district officials to speed up paddy procurement by resolving transportation delays, excess weighing complaints and unloading issues at rice mills, while seeking deployment of special officers at procurement centres and mills

Karimnagar: Choppadandi MLA Medipally Satyam on Monday submitted a representation to Collector Chitra Mishra during Prajavani, the public grievances programme, requesting her to speed up the paddy procurement process by resolving the problems prevailing at procurement centres. It reflected the ground-level situation of the procurement process, as an MLA of the ruling Congress party himself submitted a representation to officials.

Transportation of paddy to rice mills has become a major problem. A shortage of vehicles, including lorries and tractors, is resulting in delays in shifting the crop. As a result, packed paddy bags are piling up at PPC centres. Delay in unloading paddy at rice mills is further slowing down the transportation process.

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On the other hand, excess weighing of paddy is another problem being faced by farmers at PPCs. As against 40 kg, 43 kg of paddy is being weighed for every bag. Farmers alleged that an additional 3 kg is being added in the name of wastage and other reasons.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the representation, Satyam also confirmed the excess weighing of paddy at procurement centres. He said he came to know that 3 kg of paddy was additionally being weighed for every 40 kg bag. He also brought the issue to the notice of the collector.

In the wake of unseasonal rains, he asked the collector to take steps to shift paddy to rice mills by engaging more vehicles. To check irregularities and speed up the process, he wanted the collector to deploy special officers at PPC centres as well as rice mills.

When asked about the problems allegedly being created by rice millers in unloading the crop, the MLA said he had asked the collector to deploy a special officer at every rice mill to monitor the situation. He warned of action against rice millers who create problems in unloading paddy.