CURATED BY – SUNIL YADAV | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Katni, Rice millers in Katni, MP are angry due to non-receipt of paddy milling amount for 2 years. They have decided not to enter into contract this year if payment related to milling and upgradation is not given, that is, paddy will be purchased by the government but rice made from it will not be produced now. The main reason for this is said to be non-payment for the work done for the last 2 years. In fact, in the year 2022-23 and 2023-24, 73 rice mill operators of the district had contracted with the Civil Supplies Corporation and lifted paddy from the centers and did custom milling, but even after completing the work, they got only a small amount in the name of payment.

Rice Mill Association President Deepak Asrani said that we rice millers have about Rs 80 to 100 crore of payment stuck for 2 years, in which about 20 crore of 2023 and 80 crore of 2024 is outstanding. In such a situation, how can we pay the mill employees, electricity bill, maintenance and bank loan installments. Not only this, if milling is to be done this year, there is no arrangement for the contract amount, whereas all the millers have met the government administration several times and informed them about their problem, but till date no solution has been found, therefore we have decided not to do milling this time. Just as the benefit of dryness of paddy is given to warehouses, in the same way it should be given to rice millers also. There are about 77 rice millers in the district, out of which 73 mill operators do custom milling by making contract with the government, who recently met Katni collector, Chief Secretary Bhopal and Food Minister by writing their basic problems in 6 points and handed over the letter. Which includes other important issues like determination and payment of upgradation amount, payment of milling amount, dry expenditure in lifting paddy, loading and unloading and reduction in the price of gunny bags. Katni Civil Supply Corporation Manager L.K. Sharma said that the head office has not been able to make payments for 2 years due to lack of funds. We constantly demand funds and as soon as the money comes, we release some amount for all. Recently, 18 crores have been paid. This time again we have put up a pending bill of 12 crores and have placed a demand so that some relief can be given to the rice millers.

Rice Mill Association President Deepak Asrani said that this time all of us rice millers will do custom milling work only after the upgradation amount and all types of payments are made. Because this time we neither have any amount for the contract nor the money for mill operation. The association has corresponded many times but we have only received assurances, but this time we will not work on assurances. So all of us, about 800 rice millers of the state, will go to Bhopal and meet our Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and put forward all our demands and will start milling work only after the problems are resolved.