Rice millers seek sops for modernisation

The Federation of Tamil Nadu Rice Mill Owners & Paddy Rice Dealers Associations (FTPDA) has demanded concessions from the state government for upgrading and modernising rice mills.

At its state level executive council meeting held in Trichy, the federation pointed out that of the 5,000-odd rice mills in the state, only 14 had capacities of 3"�4 tonnes per hour. Almost 80 per cent of the mills fall in the capacity range of of 1.5 "� 2 tonnes per hour.

As of now, rice mills have to pay 25 per cent of their margin money to banks and financial institutions while availing loans for modernisation or expansion. The federation has demanded the government to reduce the payable margin money to a range of 15 per cent.

An operational handicap lies in the bad quality of power supply available in the rural areas, the federation said citing frequent power shutdowns, which were affecting production, when compared with the mills located in urban areas.

The mill owners were also finding it difficult to revive their sick mills because of power supply restrictions, it said.

The electricity authority in the state should be liberal in enhancing horse-power limitations to 250 from the present 150 horse-power slab fixed under LT (Low Tension) supply connectivity rules, it said.

In another resolution passed at the conference, the federation urged the chief minister to take steps to prevent the entry of multinational companies into wholesale and retails business of essential commodities.

Besides, they wanted him to impress upon the Centre the need to check import of essential commodities and foodgrain to protect the agriculture sector and domestic traders.

It appealed to the government to procure rice required for the public distribution system from traders, and not from the central pool.

The federation alleged that though the Centre had given 'green' category clearance to rice mill owners, recognising the industry as a non-polluting sector, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board was harassing rice mill owners and slabbing them under 'orange' and 'red'category industries.

The Pollution Control Board should suitably sensitise its district level officials and impress upon them the new regulations on non-polluting industries, which were implemented in 2000-01, the federation said.