Uttam directs collectors to address procurement challenges

Collectors were asked to intervene directly and store the paddy at intermediary godowns if millers delay pick-up

Hyderabad: Minister for Civil Supplies N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday directed District Collectors to address any procurement issues in earnest by coordinating with the Civil Supplies Commissioner. Addressing a video conference with the collectors and other officials involved in the Minimum Support price operations, he shared with them the concerns raised by Government Advisor Mohd Shabbir Ali from Kamareddy and MLAs Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and others regarding local procurement issues.

Collectors were asked to intervene directly and store the paddy at intermediary godowns if millers delay pick-up. The Minister granted District Collectors authority to make local decisions while keeping the Civil Supplies Commissioner informed to ensure seamless operations. The government has set up intermediary godowns with a storage capacity of 30 lakh metric tonnes to handle any contingencies. In case of delays, District Collectors were asked to ensure that paddy was stored in godowns managed by the State Warehousing Corporation or agricultural marketing committees. Uttam Kumar Reddy said 4,598 paddy procurement centres were currently operational and urged officials to open all 7,572 centres.

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