Bhubaneswar, Nov 13: Paddy procurement operations across Odisha could face disruption from December 1, with the All Odisha Rice Millers Association threatening to stop lifting paddy unless the state government addresses its long-pending demands, particularly the clearance of accumulated rice stocks.

The association has served a 10-day ultimatum on the state government and submitted a 12-point charter of demands.

It has warned that rice millers will not undertake fresh registration for paddy procurement until the existing stock of processed rice is lifted from their premises.

Highlighting the extent of the problem, the association said that although around 10 lakh metric tonnes of paddy has been procured, only 36 lakh metric tonnes of rice has been lifted against the total stock of 63 lakh metric tonnes. Nearly 30 lakh metric tonnes, accounting for approximately half of the total stock, remains stored in rice mills.

The millers said the mounting stockpile has created an acute shortage of storage space, making it increasingly difficult for them to accommodate fresh paddy and continue procurement-related operations smoothly.

As per the prescribed norms, the government is required to lift processed rice from mills within three months. However, the association alleged that delays in lifting rice have put millers under considerable operational and financial pressure.

The immediate clearance of pending rice stocks is the association's primary demand. It has categorically stated that millers will refrain from registering for the next round of paddy procurement until the accumulated stock is cleared.

Apart from the stock clearance issue, the association has raised concerns over the reduction in transportation charges. It has demanded restoration of transportation rates to the levels applicable during the 2018-19 procurement season, arguing that the existing charges are inadequate.

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The millers have also sought a revision of the drying and shrinkage allowance from the current one per cent to 0.5 per cent, claiming that the existing provision is causing difficulties in their operations.

The 12-point charter also includes a demand for the prompt release of outstanding dues owed to rice millers.

The association has cautioned that unless the government takes concrete steps to resolve these issues within the 10-day deadline, millers will suspend paddy lifting from December 1.