Food and Civil Supply Minister Punnulal Mohle said that more than 41,000 tonnes of paddy was damaged due to rain and moisture for being stocked in open during the past three years. In a written reply to BJP member Devjibhai Patel in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, Mohle said that in 2011-12 Kharif season, 59,73,000 metric tonnes of paddy was purchased in the State on support price.
In 2012-13 the total paddy procured was 71,36000 metric tonnes and in the year 2013-14 it was 79,72,000 metric tonnes. The Minister replied that 41323 tonne of paddy was damaged due to rain and moisture in these years for being stocked in open. The paddy damaged due to rain and moisture in the Kharif season 2011-12 was 4713.90 tonnes. In year 2012-13 Kharif season the damage was 23937.53 tonnes and it was 1267.81 tonnes in 2013-14 Kharif season, he said.
Patel had also sought information about reduction in paddy stocks due to dryness. Mohle replied that in 2011-12 about 73726 tonnes of paddy was reduced due to dryness and this amounts to 2.88 per cent of the total paddy lifted from the procurement centers. In 2012-13 the reduction was reported to be 181362 quintals which was 4.22 percent of the total paddy lifted from the procurement centers.