Hyderabad, July 26: Following the relentless pursuit of the issue by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, the Centre has released Rs 1000 crore to the Food Corporation of India towards payment of levy rice dues to the millers of the state by FCI.
The Centre’s decision came as a fall out of the efforts of the Chief Minister and the discussions he had with the Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister Thomas.
Over the last three days FCI has paid Rs 270 crore to millers, an official statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said.
This will enable the millers to purchase paddy from the farmers on a large scale.
It may be recalled that the FCI was due to millers of the state to the tune of Rs 1000 crore towards payment of levy rice.
The Chief Minister has twice written letters to the Union Government, besides meeting met Union Minister Thomas in this regard.
“Due to the efforts of the Chief Minister, FCI is making payments to the millers of the state,” the CMO said and added that the remaining dues will also be cleared within next week.
While thanking the Union Government and Union Minister Thomas, the Chief Minister asked to ensure that no dues are pending to the millers of the state by the centre.
He also asked the millers to purchase paddy by ensuring Minimum Support Price and not causing any hardships to the farmers.
——Agencies