Badal seeks relaxation in rice specification

CHANDIGARH, MARCH 5: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has sought grant of relaxation from the Central Government in rice specification with effect from September 15 last as the paddy stocks were badly affected due to unseasonal rains during September and October 1998.

Badal called on the Prime Minister today and stated that rice millers had not yet started delivering the rice pertaining to the paddy purchased up to October 26 last as the rice to be manufactured from this paddy will not conform to the specifications laid down by the government. The government has already allowed relaxation in rice specification for paddy procured after October 26, 1998. The procuring agencies have been able to deliver a quantity of 6.56 lakh tonnes of rice to the central pool till date which has been manufactured from paddy procured under relaxed specifications.

Badal said due to denial of relaxations with effect from September 15, along with allied issues like fixation of out of turn ratio, enhancement of milling charges and finalisation of rates for gunny bags relating to Kharif 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, rice millers of the state have gone on strike from February 15 thereby jeopardising about 49 lakh tonnes. He said that relaxation had been allowed to the UP government for Kharif marketing season 1998-99 because of unseasonal rains.