Civil Supplies Minister Pulla Rao Threatens Rice Millers To Settle Dues:- Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Prathipati Pulla Rao, taking a tough stance, has threatened to send the rice millers to jail if they fail to settle the dues within one month, they owe to the Government.  

Mr. Rao said that the millers involved in custom milling rice (CMR) in the 13 districts of AP have to pay nearly Rs 130 crore to the Government. Since the last two years, there are as many as 23 millers of Nellore top in the list, with around Rs 70 crore dues. A surprise check at the Sri Srinivasa Raw and Boiled Rice Mill on the Podalakuru - Sangam Road, about 30 km from Nellore city, was held by him. He expressed displeasure over the situation during the review with the food advisory committee. The Minister, who was accompanied by AP Civil Supplies Corporation Managing Director Ram Gopal and other officials, went around the premises of the mill, which was mostly empty, and there was no sign of the CMR paddy being still stored.

“Under the CMR scheme, the government supplies paddy to the miller who has to supply rice in return. This miller has not made the return supply so far and he owed Rs8.5 crore for the past two years. This is a serious offence and we will initiate criminal proceedings,” said Mr. Pulla Rao.

He attributed the dues to the millers’ failure to supply rice for the Public Distribution System (PDS) even after collecting paddy from the state. To repay the outstanding dues, a one-month deadline was set by him. Else, the joint collector would file criminal cases and auction their properties. He said they are planning to ban companies selling water and soft drinks at exorbitant rates while claiming that such firms have already identified.

The Representatives of the associations highlighted the issues such as shortage of fertilizers besides biometric and ePASS issues. Speaking to reporters at Venkatagiri, he said arrangements are being made to supply sugar, palm oil and red gram through Fair Price Shop (FPS) from September this year.

Stating that considerable time was given to such defiant millers on humanitarian grounds and due to political pressures, Mr. Pulla Rao said that this kind of attitude would not be tolerated and the government would take stringent action to protect sanctity of the programmes like CMR intended for farmers’ welfare.

SUPRAJA