Home Politics BJD Demands Rice Subsidy Release

BJD Demands Rice Subsidy Release

New Delhi: BJD MP, Sasmit Patra Monday demanded immediate evacuation of surplus rice from Odisha amounting to 30 Lakh Metric Ton for the present Kharif season and payment of pending subsidy of Rs.5616 crores to Odisha towards rice procurement.

Raising the issue in Rajya Sabha he said that Odisha is the fourth highest contributor of food grains to the Central Pool.

“Odisha’s own consumption per annum stands at 24 lakh Metric ton of rice and in the current Kharif season there is an urgent need for evacuation of 30 Lakh Metric Ton of rice by the Food Corporation of India,” Dr.Patra demanded.

Dr.Patra said till March 13 the total surplus rice evacuated by Food Corporation of India stood at 6.65 Lakh Metric Ton.

At this current rate, it is not possible to evacuate 30 lakh metric ton of surplus rice by Food Corporation of India (FCI).

If FCI evacuates only 17 lakh Metric ton rice like last year, then Odisha would be saddled with a surplus of 13 lakh Metric ton rice for the present Kharif season itself. This would cause a loss of Rs. 4160 crores to the State of Odisha, he said.

Dr.Patra requested through the Chairman to the Union Government to expedite the evacuation of 30 lakh Metric Ton of surplus rice from Odisha in the current Kharif season.

Another major aspect related to this rice procurement is the pending subsidy which the Centre should provide to Odisha.

Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation has pending subsidy claims towards provision and advance subsidy totaling Rs. 5616 crores. This amount of Rs. 5615 Crores of pending subsidy the Centre should provide to Odisha at the earliest.

Therefore, Dr. Patra requested the Union Government to release the pending subsidy at the earliest.