Rice millers demand extension of milling period

The Punjab Rice Millers Association has said it would observe a ‘rail roko’ at Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib district of the state on April 15, if the government does not extend the milling period of paddy crop that ended on March 31.

Talking to reporters here, association president Tarsem Saini said earlier the cut off date for milling of paddy was fixed as June 30 and even extended later. However, this year it was fixed as March 31 only and in spite of several requests, the same has not been extended so far.

The state government had urged the Centre to extend the milling period as 40 per cent milling is yet to be completed, but the Union Food Ministry has not taken any decision on this issue, he said.

About 3,000 rice mills in the sate have shut shops since April 1 and on an average each miller has to incur Rs 10,000 per day on electricity charges, labour and salary, he said, adding the inordinate delay has already caused a loss of Rs 3 crore to the rice millers.