Bhubaneswar, July 28: Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo today met Union Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi in New Delhi and requested to expedite the evacuation of rice by Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Odisha has procured a record quantity of 92,64,235 MT of paddy during Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2024-25, which is equivalent to 62,62,086 MT of rice, which is the highest ever procurement in the state's history.
After the state's consumption including Kharif and Rabi, there will be a surplus of 12 Lakh MT of rice, which needs to be lifted by FCI. Additionally, the slow pace of surplus rice evacuation by FCI hampering overall procurement operations, Singh Deo said.
He requested the Union Minister to intervene in the matter and expedite the evacuation procedure.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also wrote a letter citing the issue to the Union Minister.
Joshi has assured to resolve the issue.
MP from Odisha Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, Malvika Devi, Pratap Sarangi, Bhartuhari Mahtab, Pradeep Purohit, Sukanta Panigrahi, Anita Subhadarshini, Ananta Charan Nayak, Bhibhu Prasad Tarai, Dr. Rabindra Narayan Behara, Union Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Sanjiv Chopra were present during the meeting.
