Telangana delegation wants written assurance on paddy

Hyderabad: Telangana insisted for a written assurance from the Centre which has promised to enhance the target of paddy procurement for Kharif Marketing Season 2021-22, upon fulfilling the initial target of 60 lakh tonnes (i.e., 40 lakh tonnes rice). With Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal informing that he would consult the […]

Hyderabad: Telangana insisted for a written assurance from the Centre which has promised to enhance the target of paddy procurement for Kharif Marketing Season 2021-22, upon fulfilling the initial target of 60 lakh tonnes (i.e., 40 lakh tonnes rice). With Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal informing that he would consult the officials in this regard and give clarity in a couple of days, the Ministers’ delegation decided to stay put in Delhi until the Centre gives clarity on the issue.

Speaking to mediapersons at Telangana Bhavan in Delhi after their meeting with the Union Minister, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy said the Telangana delegation would meet the Union Minister again in two-three days and leave for Hyderabad only after getting the issue to a logical conclusion. The Telangana Ministers brought to the notice of Piyush Goyal that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was not moving the rice stocks from its godowns citing shortage of rakes and in turn, not lifting the stocks from the millers.

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“Despite Telangana’s milling capacity of 10 lakh tonnes, the Centre is not using full capacity available in the State. Similarly, the Union government is not transporting 30,000-40,000 tonnes of rice despite having a provision. The Union Minister admitted that it was the responsibility of the Centre to clear the rice stocks and assured in this regard,” Niranjan Reddy said. Further, Piyush Goyal responded positively and called Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over telephone seeking allocation of rakes immediately. He also directed the FCI authorities over telephone, to expedite clearance of the stocks.

Piyush Goyal reiterated that the Union government will not procure rice in Yasangi season. The Telangana Ministers’ delegation informed about achieving the Kharif target of 60 lakh tonnes of paddy in a couple of days and about 10-12 lakh tonnes paddy awaiting for procurement, as well as ready-to-harvest paddy in around 5 lakh acres.

Niranjan Reddy criticised Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy for not acting responsibly. He was incensed that BJP leaders were politicising the issue without giving any help to the farmers. He took up the irresponsible statements made by the BJP leaders with Piyush Goyal and sought to know why the BJP leaders were trying to blame the Telangana government when it was the responsibility of the Union government to lift the rice stocks.

“Kishan Reddy is a citizen of Telangana State and is representing people of the State in the Parliament. Does he not have any responsibility towards farmers of the State?” he asked. The Agriculture Minister said due to the pro-farmer initiatives of Chief Minister Chandrashekhar Rao, the cultivation area has increased which in turn increased paddy cultivation in the State.

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