Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Punnulal Mohle on Tuesday informed in the State Assembly that no target has been set for purchase of paddy at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The Government purchased 52.51 lakh metric tonnes for the Kharif Marketing Year 2013-14 while making payments amounting to Rs 6,947.57 crore to the farmers till January 10, 2014, he stated in a written reply to Congress member Bhupesh Baghel. The Minister said that no bonus had been distributed to the farmers on the paddy procured from them during the aforesaid period.
To another question from Congress member Dhanendra Sahu on the amount of paddy purchased during year 2012-13 and 2013 till January 13, 2014, Mohale said that during the Kharif Marketing Year 2012-13 and 2013-14 till January 13, 2014, 71.36 lakh metric tonnes and 53.94 lakh metric tonnes of paddy was purchased from the farmers.
Replying to another question from Congress member Motilal Devangan regarding damage incurred due to inferior quality paddy at the procurement centres and the persons responsible for the loss during 2012-13, the Minister informed that during year 2012-13, quality of a total of 19,668.83 tonnes of paddy was found to be of inferior quality compatred to the prescribed standards and after physical verification of the stock, directives to initiate action against the persons for negligence and irregularities committed had been taken.