The Hindu : Front Page : Norms for Punjab rice procurement relaxed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 05, 2005

Front Page

Front Page

Norms for Punjab rice procurement relaxed

Gargi Parsai

Concession follows request from State; it will cost the Centre Rs. 90 crores

NEW DELHI: The Centre has relaxed the acceptable norms for fair average quality rice to be procured from Punjab for distribution under the Targeted Public Distribution System. This was done after a request from the State Government on the plea that the kharif paddy crop had suffered damage in the late monsoon rains.

The relaxation of specifications would cost the Central Government about Rs 90 crores. The Centre has asked the Punjab Government to share half the cost with it.

According to highly placed sources in the Union Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the State Government is yet to respond to this.

Punjab millers have been given a major discount on the "out-turn ratio'' of rice to be recovered from paddy. Instead of an "out-turn ratio'' of 67 kg per 100 kg rice, millers have been allowed to return 66 kg rice. The Punjab Government was seeking a concession of 3 per cent on this, which was turned down by the Centre. This is what is going to cost the Exchequer Rs 90 crores.

Punjab has also been allowed to procure rice up to 4 per cent discolouration, instead of the accepted norm of 3 per cent.

The 1 per cent concession has been given on "pinpoint damaged'' paddy where a speck of black spot occurs on account of unseasonal rains as happened in parts of Punjab this kharif season.

Although the major damage to the paddy crop occurred in the Bhatinda-Sangrur belt, relaxation has been allowed on all rice to be procured from the State as stocks cannot be segregated, sources said.

Initially Punjab had been given this relaxation till October 24, which has now been extended till November 15.

The last time Punjab was given major concessions on the quality of rice procured for the Central pool was in 2001.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page