Govt steps in to tackle paddy glut

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, October 18

The state government has allowed rice millers from other districts to buy the “permal” variety of paddy from Fazilka district for custom-milling to overcome the problem of glut.

Official sources said the Food and Supplies Department had issued release orders to 11 rice millers from Bathinda and Barnala districts allowing them to buy about 20,000 metric tonnes of paddy.

Deputy Commissioner Manpreet Singh said here on Thursday that about 15.5 lakh bags (each bag weighing 37.5 kg) were expected to arrive in the Abohar market and purchase centres, but the three rice mills set up there had the capacity of milling only 4 lakh bags. Hence, the remaining paddy would be procured by the other rice millers to clear the glut as soon as possible, said the Deputy Commissioner.