Odisha urges centre to clear Rs 8,178 cr paddy subsidy, expedite rice evacuation

The State Government has requested the Centre for early evacuation of 7.60 lakh metric tons of rice procured by the State within the time frame specified by the Union Government, an official said on Friday.

State’s Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra, who met the Union Consumer Welfare, Public Food Distribution minister recently in New Delhi, also pressed for the release of Rs 8178.19 crore of pending paddy subsidy claims.

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Patra requested the Union Minister for the early release of subsidy claims, prioritizing the settlement of major pending dues of three financial years from 2020 to 2023.

He also requested the evacuation of rice from the state for the smooth conduct of the upcoming procurement cycle.

Necessary instructions may be issued to the Food Corporation of India to expedite the evacuation of 7.60 lakh metric tons within the time frame specified by the Government of India.

Minister Patra also demanded an enhancement of the procurement target of rice for the kharif season. Union Minister Joshi assured all possible help to the state. Both of them discussed various issues related to Odisha. On this occasion, Principal Secretary of Food

Supplies and Consumer Welfare Sanjay Kumar Singh, along with other senior officers, was present, the officials concluded.