Govt hikes milling charges of rice

Bhubaneswar: Conceding to the demand of the millers, who had threatened a stir from June 8, the state govt on Friday raised paddy milling charges from Rs 20 to Rs 40 per quintal for parboiled rice and from Rs 10 to Rs 20 per quintal for raw rice.

The CM expressed hope that the move will address the issues faced by the millers, facilitate seamless paddy procurement from farmers and strengthen the state’s food security system.

The millers said they would call off their strike plan, while negotiate with the govt for fulfilment of their other demands.

In a memorandum addressed to food supplies and consumer welfare minister Krushna Chanda Patra on Thursday, All Odisha Rice Millers’ Association had threatened to go on strike, pressing for various demands, including a rise in the milling charges to Rs 100 per quintal.

Their other demands include enhancement of transportation charges on paddy and rice, and reimbursement of toll gate fees on an actual basis on submission of receipts charged during transportation among others.