With dues from the State government crossing Rs.100 crore, rice mills based in Andhra Pradesh have decided to stop supplies to the Kerala State Cooperative Consumer Federation (Consumerfed) and the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) with immediate effect.
At a press conference here on Monday, general secretary of the Quilon Rice Brokers Association G. Satheesh said the decision was taken by the East Godavari District Rice Millers Association (EGDRMA).
No payment in 3 years
Payments had not been made for the past three years and the arrears came to more than Rs.100 crore.
Mr. Satheesh said that Kollam-based rice brokers were the prime stockists of the AP-based rice mills in south Kerala and that the press conference was called under directions from the EGDRMA. Supplies for south Kerala reach Kollam by rail freight.
Mr. Satheesh said the EGDRMA representatives had met Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other Ministers in the past six months with requests for clearing of dues. But no payments were made.
The decision was not to supply rice to any State government organisation.
However, the EGDRMA had said that the situation would not lead to shortage or price rise of rice in the open market.
Rice would be supplied at the existing rate to the open market. The AP rice millers had said that they had ample buffer stock of rice and that if there was demand more rakes would be despatched for the open market next month to meet the Onam-related demands.
Rice will be available for open market
Meetings with CM, Ministers yielded no results
