Chandigarh: Additional Chief Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Dr. Sumita Misra on Monday held a meeting with officers of the food storage agencies.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding ensuring storage facilities for CMR rice.The need for storage space for approximately 16 lakh MT of rice in Haryana was also raised and discussions were held on storage of 12.55 lakh MT of rice in the warehouses.
Other issues including pending payments, time frames for grain storage in warehouses, and transportation charges of inter-district wheat shifting was also discussed.
Dr. Sumita Misra emphasized that proper arrangements for storing the CMR rice produced from the current paddy season should be ensured promptly.
She directed the officers to ensure that all necessary facilities in the warehouses are set up by the end of December so that when millers supply rice to FCI, there are no storage issues. This includes timely completion of tender-related tasks, repairs, and obtaining necessary approvals.
Dr. Sumita Misra lauded the officers concerned for the smooth execution of the paddy procurement season and said that the Haryana government’s efforts were successful as farmers faced no difficulties in selling their paddy. It was decided in the meeting to expedite the lifting of wheat presently stored in warehouses by FCI. Besides this, FCI will formulate a plan to ensure direct lifting from mandis if required during the wheat season, and FCI officers will expedite the lifting of wheat and rice from Haryana’s warehouses.
CMD FCI, Smt. Vanita Rattan Sharma lauded the Haryana government for smoothly facilitating the paddy procurement process and assured that FCI would continue to work in collaboration with the Haryana government to ensure safe storage of grains. She assured to take positive steps regarding pending issues, including payments.
Managing Director, Haryana Warehousing Corporation and Director General, Information, Public Relations and Languages Department, Sh. K M Pandurang, Managing Director, HAFED, J. Ganeshan, General Manager, FCI Haryana, Sharandeep Kaur Brar, and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Anita Kharb attended the meeting.