Lapses in paddy procurement in mandis to invite stringent action: Odisha Minister

Any individual involved in mismanagement at paddy mandis will face stern action, warned Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Saturday.

Corruption will not be tolerated in any form and transparency will be maintained at any cost. Complete transparency will be ensured in the process of paddy procurement.

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Reports have surfaced about millers buying paddy from farmers at lower rates in some places. Earlier yesterday, an incident involving middlemen in a Bargarh district mill was reported on OTV.

The Food Supplies Minister stated that strict action will be taken against anyone involved in malpractices. If any irregularities occur in the paddy procurement process, the mill will be blacklisted.

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In Nuapada district, a mill owner was found to be holding 500 quintals of paddy bought at Rs 1,700 per quintal, prompting the minister to order the mill’s closure. “Millers will not be allowed to purchase paddy directly from farmers. In case any miller is found to have done so, the mill will be sealed,” Minister Patra stated to mediapersons.

“In some places, we observed, the farmers are distressed selling their produce in a hurry. Dalals (middlemen) are taking advantage of this situation. However, we will not spare anyone whoever the person is,” the Food Supplies Minister asserted.