Opposition members in the State Assembly on Thursday expressed concern over the delay in paddy procurement from farmers again.
While they demanded a reply from the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister in this regard, Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro said he would hold discussion with the Minister and inform the House about the outcome.
Leader of Opposition Pradipta Naik said farmers are still facing difficulties in selling their paddy as the Government has not issued token to them. “There are huge quantities of paddy piled up at mandis in Kalahandi, Balagir and Sambalpur now. The Minister had assured that all paddy crops will be procured from the registered farmers by March 31. However, most of the registered farmers have not yet been issued token yet,” lamented Naik.
Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra alleged that the Minister has not implemented his commitments on paddy procurement yet. “The Government has said that it will procure 19 quintals paddy per hectare of irrigated land and 13 quintals of paddy per hectare of non-irrigated land from farmers. But in Balangir, upto 13 quintals of paddy per hectare have been procured. It means that Balangir has no irrigated land. The Government is making false claim of irrigating 50 per cent of cultivable land in Bolangir,” he alleged.
Mishra demanded a ruling from the Speaker asking the Minister to give data on paddy procurement.
BJP ember Jayanarayan Mishra also demanded that the Government procure paddy from all farmers soon.
