Srikakulam: Millers procure paddy illegally from Odisha

Srikakulam: Rice millers in Srikakulam district particularly in Pathapatnam, Palakonda, Tekkali, Amudalavalasa, Palasa and Itchapuram Assembly segments are procuring paddy from Odisha state. As a result, local farmers are unable to sell their paddy and even they are also losing minimum support price (MSP) as fixed by the government. Millers in the district are paying Rs 1,100 per 80 KG paddy bag procured from farmers of Odisha and for the same here in Srikakulam, they have to pay Rs 1,510 as MSP fixed by the government.

To save Rs 410 on each bag of paddy, the millers are violating AP government's civil supplies department's norms and procuring paddy from Odisha state. As per rules, millers have to procure paddy from the local farmers by paying MSP and also to follow quality norms. After procuring paddy from farmers, miller has to handover 53.6 KG of rice per each 80 KG quantity of paddy to the civil supplies department as per levy rules.

The rice millers in collusion with minivan owners and middlemen are procuring paddy from Odisha during late nights every day. Paddy from Odisha is transported from Davidigam to Tekkali in Srikakulam via Meliyaputti and Vasundhara route. Another route is from Garabanda of Odisha to Palasa in Srikakulam via Goppili and third route is from Parlakimidi of Odisha to Palasa in Srikakulam via Regulapadu and Tekkalipatnam.

"We have been maintaining strict vigil on illegal procurement of paddy from Odisha," stated district manager for civil supplies corporation A Krishna Rao to The Hans India.