Punjab News/Kairon calls on Thomas

Chandigarh, December 7, 2013: Adaish Partap Singh Kairon, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister, Punjab had a detailed discussion with K.V. Thomas, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Food & Public Distribution, Govt. of India in Delhi on today regarding extension of delivery period of rice for KMS 2012-13.
Kairon impressed upon the Union Minister to consider this issue in the background of actual requirement of rice in the central pool and also in the interest of the Rice Millers of Punjab who could not deliver rice to FCI in time because of various reasons, shortage of storage space for rice being one of them. Union Food Minister was kind enough to consider the issue in the larger interest of the country as well the state of Punjab and agreed to grant another extension for delivery of rice pertaining to KMS 2012-13. It is worth mentioning that on date, more than 3.25 lac MT of rice worth Rs. 800 Crore is pending for delivery to FCI. This decision of Government of India will provide another opportunity to defaulting rice millers to deliver the rice & clear all their dues pertaining to 2012-13.
Government of Punjab had sought this permission earlier too but Government of India declined it on two occasions. It is only because of the personal efforts of Food Minister Punjab that Union Government has ultimately agreed for extension keeping in view the interest of the state as well as of the rice millers. It has been, however, made clear by Sh. D S Grewal, Secretary Food, Punjab that this will be the last opportunity for the rice millers to deliver rice for 2012-13 and Government of Punjab will not approach Government of India for further extension at all.
During the above-mentioned deliberations, the issue of distribution of wheat to the state beneficiaries under the NFSA/State’s New Atta Dal Scheme was also taken up. Kairon requested Union Food Minister to ensure fixation of rates of transportation, labour, Depot Holders’ commission etc. at the earliest so that State could accelerate its pace of preparedness for wheat distribution from all angles. He further requested for immediate allocation and release of wheat under NFSA so that state beneficiaries could be delivered wheat at their doorsteps. Secretary Food, Govt. of India assured that all these issues will be decided/resolved in about a week’s time.  Senior functionaries of the department of food, however, plan to visit Delhi next week again to pursue all these issues vigorously./ punjab news live, punjab news online, punjab news, punjab news headlines, punjab breaking news, india news, punjab news