Miller-hamali standoff hits rice milling in delta regions

The standoff between the millers and hamalis over payment of loading and unloading charges at the warehouses of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has hit the paddy milling in the Krishna and the Godavari delta regions.

According to sources in Civil Supplies Department, the hamalis refused to lift rice stocks from the lorry sent in by the millers, demanding a hike in the charges. This has resulted in suspension of paddy milling in Guntur, Krishna, West and East Godavari districts for the past 10 days. Consequently, huge quantities of paddy are lying at the procurement centres.

The Civil Supplies Department sought to use the space in FCI warehouses for storage of food grains after procurement and milling. The department offers Rs 12.50 per quintal towards milling charges and Rs 2.5 as transport charges. Hamalis are demanding an increase in the lifting charges by Rs. 1 from Rs. 2 per quintal. “When the government is paying us Rs. 2.5 per quintal for transporting and unloading the stock, how can we pay Rs. 3 for unloading alone?,” asks Ganni Prasada Raju, a miller from Tadepalligudem.

The FCI authorities, however, have resumed operations related to storage of food grains at its 11 warehouses in West Godavari district from Friday as the deadlock was resolved following the intervention of Collector Bhaskar Katamneni. The piquant situation is, however, said to be continuing in the other districts.

“The strike by millers is unlikely to cause demand-supply problems in the market as there are sufficient rice stocks with the government,” according to District Supplies Officer S. Sivasankar Reddy. In West Godavari district alone, the government has procured 4 lakh tonnes of paddy when compared to 12 lakh and odd tonnes of procurement target last kharif . The growers disposed of the rest of the produce to millers, after retaining some for self consumption.

The millers are allowed to sell away 75 per cent of the grains after milling in the open market, while giving away the remaining to the government according to the new levy targets.

Hamalis seek hike in unloading charges to Rs. 3, while the govt. offers Rs. 2.5 for the same

Milling suspended in Guntur, Krishna and twin Godavari districts for the past 10 days