CM KCR appeals to the Centre to purchase paddy

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has appealed to the Centre again to revise its paddy procurement to at least 80 lakh tonnes from the proposed 60 lakh tonnes for Vaanakalam (Kharif) season 2021-22. He is also learnt to have urged enhanced procurement of parboiled rice up to 80-90 per cent of total rice procured by the Centre for Yasangi (Rabi) 2020-21.

In his meeting with Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal on Sunday evening, the Chief Minister reportedly sought the former’s intervention to facilitate increase in paddy procurement from Telangana State by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). He also urged the FCI not to insist only on fine variety paddy and procure coarse variety as well. 

The State government has been repeatedly requesting the Centre to purchase at least 80 lakh tonnes of paddy for the monsoon season, considering the estimated paddy production of about 1.38 lakh tonnes in the wake of increased paddy cultivation in the State in about 61 lakh acres.

Earlier in the day, Chandrashekhar Rao participated in a high-level meeting convened by Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah with six Chief Ministers of Left-Wing Extremism affected



States. Sources said he sought 100 per cent funding for constructing road networks in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas instead of putting them in the CSS format (Centrally Sponsored Schemes format where States contribute 60 per cent of expenditure and Centre 40 per cent). 

He pointed out that the internal security issues are of national importance and these road works to improve connectivity in remote areas, were very crucial for development, besides ensuring access to security forces.

The Chief Minister will return to Hyderabad on Monday morning and attend the ongoing session of the State Legislature. Chandrashekhar Rao, who was on a three-day visit to Delhi, had already called on Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking postponement of the implementation of the gazette notification, bringing all the irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari Rivers under the purview of the respective River Management Boards. 

He had also discussed issues pertaining to Mission Bhagiratha, approvals for the Palamuru-Rangareddy Irrigation Scheme, opposition to the Rayalaseema Lift Irrigation Scheme in Andhra Pradesh, among others.