The district administration on Thursday urged rice millers not to cause any hardship to farmers during the next two months in the rabi season and pay the MSP for the grains procured by them.
At a review meeting with millers, Additional Joint Collector Neelakantam said 8,000 metric tonnes through the market yards and 2,500 metric tonnes by the government agencies have been procured so far this year. The Civil Supplies Department has opened eight grain purchase centres, Food Corporation of India – three, and IKP - 30. As many as 20 lakh gunny bags are available with the administration for storage.
He called upon millers to be fair in weighing the farmers' stocks and paying them the right price, as stipulated by the law. Mr. Neelakantam assured them that the administration would strive to avoid any delay in weighing and transporting of the grains out of the market yards, by arranging the required gunny bags. He said officers should sort out the issue with millers and IKP staff if there is any shortage of grains received from IKP centres.
He asked FCI officials to move to other States boiled rice stored in godowns to make space available for fresh stocks. He directed local officials to conduct daily inspections of market yards, IKP centres and mill points.
Rain
Meanwhile, rain accompanied by heavy gales and lighting struck several villages in Chityal, Narketpalli and Choutuppal mandals during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
Although there was no rain in Nalgonda, power supply was disrupted for over three hours late on Wednesday evening, causing much hardship to residents. Following the wet weather in the three mandals, farmers dried the affected paddy on the National Highway IX at Aitipamula village and from Narketpalli to Kattangur areas. They had kept paddy at homes as they were not getting remunerative prices and also in view of the impending rain to avoid damage if taken to market yards for disposal.
