MLAs express concern over delay in payment of paddy sale

Admitting that farmers were getting delayed payment for sale of their paddy at the state run mandis, Odisha government today urged the MLAs to help identify some middle men operating in Kalahandi district.
The issue was raised during the question hour when the members cutting across party lines expressed concern over the problems in procuring paddy from the farmers and for delay in payment of Rs 100 as cyclone assistance per quintal to the cultivators.
Responding to a query by Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh of Congress, Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Pratap Deb said a vigilance probe has been ordered against the contractors obstructing procurement drive in the backward district like Kalahandi.

Claiming that the paddy procurement was going on smoothly in 1988 mandis run by different agencies, Deb said the Government has so far procured 21.95 lakh MT paddy. The paddy procurement for the Kharif season will continue till April, he said.
On the issue of payment of cyclone assistance of Rs 100
per quintal of paddy, Deb blamed it on the banks which, according to him, make disbursement in 20 to 25 days. He claimed the state government used to clear farmers payment within seven days.