New Delhi: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Sasmit Patra Monday urged the Union government to direct Food Corporation of India (FCI) to immediately procure surplus rice of 30 lakh metric tonne from Odisha. The BJD MP also urged the Union government to release a pending subsidy of Rs 5,616 crore to the state.
Speaking during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, the BJD MP said that Odisha is the fourth largest food supplier in the country. He said every year the state consumes 24 lakh metric tonne of rice and during this Kharif season, around 30 lakh MT rice is required to be lifted by the FCI.
“If we look at the figures till March 13 of the current year, we will find that only 6.65 lakh MT rice has been lifted by FCI. If things move at this pace, FCI will not be able to meet the required target of procuring 30 lakh MT rice during this Kharif season. If we compare it with last year, only 17 lakh MT rice was lifted,” Patra said.
The BJD MP stated that state exchequer may incur loss of Rs 4,160 crore if FCI does not procure the surplus rice. “Had the same amount of rice been procured, around 13 lakh MT rice would still remain stored in the state leading to a situation where Odisha will incur a loss of Rs 4,160 crore to its state exchequer,” Patra said.