Gariaband: Action has now been initiated against the millers who have not lifted paddy from the procurement centers. The district administration has issued notices to the in-charges and managers of 28 paddy procurement centers regarding paddy lifting. 1576 metric tons of paddy has not been lifted from these centers. Regarding this, the collector has given strict instructions to lift the paddy within 10 days. If negligence is shown in paddy lifting, action will be taken against the millers.

In fact, under the direction of Collector Deepak Kumar Agarwal, the disposal of the remaining paddy in the Kharif marketing year 2023-24 is in its final stages. Out of 90 procurement centers in the district, 62 procurement centers have been declared zero by lifting 100% paddy, while there are still 28 procurement centers in the district where paddy is yet to be lifted. Thus, a total of 1576 metric tonnes of paddy is yet to be lifted. Permission for inter-district custom milling has been granted by the state government for the disposal of the remaining paddy of the district.

In this connection, a DO request was put by the millers of the Dhamtari district for lifting paddy. In which M/s Murti Agro Industries, Dhamtari M.A 599220 put a DO request for lifting paddy of 3871.00 quintals from Borsi Procurement Center of Phingeshwar Committee. The said miller did not lift the paddy even after 10 days and neither did the District Marketing Officer, District Gariaband, Food Officer District Gariaband, and Procurement Center Incharge Borsi give a proper solution-oriented reply on the telephone

The question of the quality of paddy was raised repeatedly whereas in relation to quality, the quality of the remaining paddy of Borsi Procurement Center was already tested by a joint team of Assistant Food Officer Rajim, Cooperative Extension Officer Rajim, Branch Manager Phingeshwar Junior Technical Assistant/Quality Inspector. In which the damage discoloration quantity was 7.22% which was 2.22% more than the permissible quantity by 5% and foreign matter and immature grains were found to be less than the permissible quantity.

District Marketing Officer Amit Chandrakar said in his statement that clause 6.1 of the contract executed between the Marketing Federation and the Millers clearly states that if party number-2 i.e. the Miller does not lift the paddy within 10 days of the issuance of DO, then a penalty of Rs. 6 per quintal will be imposed for every 7 days on the quantity of paddy that has not been lifted.

District Food Officer Sudhir Guru said that notice has been issued to the in-charge of 28 procurement units and their managers who have finalized the paddy. Also, a proposal has been sent by the Collector Gariaband to the State Government and Managing Director Markfed to take action against M/s Murti Agro Industries Dhamtari M.A 599220 as per the above. Disposal of the remaining paddy of the district will be completed in the next 10