Pollution norms: Govt,rice millers at loggerheads

The millers,on the other hand,claimed that instead of issuing such orders,the government should constitute a high-level committee,which will visit shellers across the state to find out whether the mills were in fact polluting the environment. Moreover,while asking the government to take stock of the paddy stored in the 3,000 shellers at the time of procurement last year,the millers have claimed that they do not need to be allotted a share in storage of paddy for the coming season.

Recently,deputy commissioners (DC) in all districts have issued orders to millers that there should be metalled roads inside shellers,the area where paddy husk is released at the time of making rice must be covered and ash released during the milling process must be buried at a proper place,among others. According to PPCB,due to milling of paddy,husk and ash is being released in the air resulting in environment pollution. Also,as the roads inside the mills are kuccha,there is always dust in the air.

While opposing the government’s move,president of Punjab Rice Millers Welfare Association (RMWA),Rakesh Jain,said: “Paddy worth Rs 5,200 crore is lying in rice mills across the state. If the government pressurises us to follow such orders,it may rot. As a result of delay in milling of rice,millers are reeling under huge debts owing to poor policies of the government. One mill covers an area from 3 acres to 6 acres (12000 sq yard to 24,000 sq yard) and millers cannot afford to make roads,cover the area where husk is released and bury the ash.”

While demanding that such infrastructure should be provided to them by government,Jain said,“The government has been getting funds from Centre to store paddy,but they money is not reaching those who store the paddy in the mills for free. The government can use the fund to make roads,lift ash and make sheds in the mills.”

Last year,115 lakh tonnes of paddy worth Rs 15,000 crore was procured by government agencies and stored in 3,000 rice mills across the state.

Till date,only 65 per cent of the total milling has been completed. As per norms,the complete milling of paddy must be done by March 31,but due to delay in milling and Assembly elections,milling has not been completed till date.