The Centre has decided to restore Rice Procurement operations in Central pool (by FCI & by State under DCP) in Telangana, said Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
He criticized the Telangana government stating that the state government did not distribute ration to the poor in the month of April and May under Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) despite repeated reminders from the Centre.
He reiterated that Centre is committed and concerned for the poor and the farmers. Goyal added that through PMGKAY, the central government wants to ensure that no poor person is deprived of their right and get their full entitlement.
“The Government of Telangana has already lifted considerable quantity (1.90 LMT) from DCP stocks against April and May, 2022 months, but the same has not been distributed thus depriving benefits to the beneficiaries of the Central Scheme,” the Minister added.
He also shared the observations made by the Central Team during Physical Verification (PV) of Paddy. He said that on 31.03.2022, a list of defaulter millers where shortages had been noticed was communicated to the Telangana State Government to take immediate strict action as 4,53,896 bags were found short in 40 mills.
Again on 21.05.2022, other observations were communicated to the State: shortages of total 1,37,872 bags noticed in 63 mills i.e. 12 mills of KMS 2020-21 (Rabi) and 51 mills of KMS 2021-22 (Kharif) and iIn 593 mills i.e. 101 mills of KMS 2020-21(Rabi) and 492 mills of KMS 2021-22 (Kharif), the paddy was not stored in countable position due to which the PV of paddy stocks could not be completed.
Pertinently, the Commissioner of Civil Supplies & Ex.Officio Secretary, Government of Telangana vide letter dated 04.10.2021 had assured that “To overcome the impediments experienced during Physical Verification (PV) of Paddy/rice during KMS 2020-21, State would ensure that the stocks are always kept in a countable position along with proper book-keeping and Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) for the same will be followed”.
However, till date no concrete strict action has been taken by the State Government against defaulter millers where shortages have been noticed.
Goyal informed that Telangana needed 36 crore litres additional annual capacity for ethanol blending to go upto 20%. But, the state government did not process it. He said that the processing of the ethanol could have helped farmers, generated jobs for youths and also would have brought investment. It would have also helped in reducing import of petroleum and thereby saved foreign exchange.
