Strong action will be taken against any agent of a rice mill owner who will try to purchase paddy at a price below the one fixed by the government. This was announced by state food and supplies minister Jyotipriya Mullick on Monday.
“The minimum support price for paddy has been fixed at `1,250 per quintal and in case of a better quality paddy the price is `1,580 per quintal. An FIR will lodged against any agent who will try to purchase paddy at a lower price taking advantage of the compulsion and desperation of a farmer,” he added.
Mr Mullick was speaking at the paddy-purchasing centre at Boro village in Purulia district. The government started purchasing paddy operation in the state on Monday for the year 2012-13 at three places in Purulia: Boro, Bari and Dwarsinhi villages.
The purchase of paddy will continue till September 31, 2013. Mr Mullick announced that 104 centres would be opened in the district for the purchase of paddy. The government will launch special drive and set up camps for the purchase of paddy.
Mr Mullick also announced that irrespective of APL/BPL status, every family in the Jangalmahal would be given rice at `2 per kg.
The state food and supplies minister also held a meeting at the Purulia circuit house with the food department officials, ration dealers and rice mill owners to fine tune the paddy purchasing operations in the state.