The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : PDS rice being exported, says CPI(M)

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PDS rice being exported, says CPI(M)

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Without proper checks and security measures, subsidised rice meant for the poor is getting exported out of the country through small ports like the seasonal port at Gopalpur in Ganjam district, alleges the Orissa unit of the CPI(M). At present, rice is being exported through the Gopalpur port to Bangladesh.

State Secretariat member of the party Ali Kishore Patnaik alleged that some nefarious traders, who are involved in refining the subsidised rice meant for PDS, were involved in getting this subsidised rice exported through a clandestine network. As per the norms of the Union Government, only basmati rice and premium quality non-basmati rice could be exported.

“It is for sure that Bangladesh is not importing basmati rice through the Goplapur port. The government prescribed rate for export quality premium non-basmati rice is around $ 500 per quintal,” said Mr. Patnaik.

The CPI(M) fact-finding team found out that the traders were getting some Rs. 1,110 per quintal for the rice they were providing for export at the Gopalpur port. This amount included transportation charges. So, doubts were raised because no premium quality rice was available for Rs. 1,000 per quintal in Orissa.

“So, the traders providing the rice for export must have got the rice at very less price which hints at the fact that the rice may be subsidised PDS rice reprocessed at rice mills,” Mr. Patnaik said. Although NAFED is the authorised body to export rice, yet it collects the rice from local millers as NAFED only collects paddy from farmers.

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