Government urges Food Corporation of India to supply 1.98 lakh tonnes of rice in February

The Bengal government has written to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), asking the Central Public Service Company to supply 1.98 lakh tonnes of rice in February to implement the cheap grain scheme in the state. Of next year.

The letter assumed significance as senior Bengal government officials said the state had not surrendered to FCI the supply of rice for the cheap grain scheme in recent times, as Mamata Banerjee’s administration insisted on acquiring the rice. Was. In the last year.

“The letter indicates that the State is concerned about the progress of the rice acquisition and depending on the rice produced from the acquired rice, the Government may not be able to supply cheap grains to the beneficiaries before the national elections. gathering. That is why rice has been requested from the Centre,” said a senior government official.

Progress on the acquisition, which began on November 1 after the Kharif (monsoon) season harvest, is slow.

“As of now, the state can purchase 3.38 lakh tonnes of rice, while its target is 70 lakh tonnes. The target is to complete 80 percent of the target by February next year. During the same period last year, more than 4,50 lakh tonnes were procured in the state. Therefore, the state government has reasons to be concerned”, another official said.