Hyderabad, Aug 12 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday directed officials to take steps to recover dues from defaulting millers for paddy entrusted to them under the CMR system.
Under the Custom Milled Rice system, paddy procured by the Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation through procurement centres is entrusted to empanelled rice millers.
The millers are required to process the paddy and return the prescribed quantity and quality of rice for supply to the Food Corporation of India and distribution through the Public Distribution System.
While many millers have honoured their commitments, several others have defaulted over the years by delaying deliveries, failing to return rice, diverting government stocks or violating
contractual obligations.
The CM, who held a meeting with Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy and officials, said the government would adopt a cooperative approach towards genuine millers but deal sternly with those deliberately attempting to evade payments, a press release said.
He said the government would allocate paddy to women Self-Help Groups in place of defaulting millers.
He alleged that the previous BRS government had allowed dues running into thousands of crores to accumulate but was now trying to shift the blame onto the Congress government.
Observing that there had been progress in recovering the dues, he said the government would recover every rupee owed to it.
He directed officials to formulate specific guidelines for recovering the dues and submit a report to the Cabinet Sub-Committee.
The state government would take an appropriate decision following the Cabinet Sub-Committee’s review, the CM said.
Referring to recurring challenges in storing paddy during procurement seasons, Reddy directed officials to immediately formulate an action plan to address the issue.
A pilot project to set up silo-bag storage facilities would be taken up in high paddy-yielding districts such as Nalgonda, Suryapet and Nizamabad, the release said.
The CM announced that 50 to 100 acres would be allocated in each constituency for such facilities, which would be managed by Self-Help Groups.
He suggested exploring the construction of spacious platforms under the VB G-RAM G scheme and using German tents for paddy storage in available spaces.
Officials were instructed to identify private warehouses, function halls, old cinema theatres and other sheds at the mandal and village levels in advance and lease them for paddy storage, the release added. PTI SJR SSK
