TN officials caught off-guard as Central team deviates from inspection schedule

Chennai: A nine-member Central team, split into three groups, inspected direct procurement centres (DPCs) and interacted with farmers to assess moisture content of paddy affected by recent rain in delta and other rain-hit districts of Tamil Nadu on Saturday. Union govt deputed the team following a request from state govt to increase permissible moisture level of paddy from 17% to 22% in rain-affected districts.The team reportedly deviated from its scheduled programme, leaving district administrations of Trichy, Namakkal and Tiruvarur in confusion. While Namakkal district administration said it was unaware of the team's visit, Tiruvarur administration announced the visit had been postponed due to administrative reasons. Confusion relating to two of the three teams persisted till late Saturday, despite Tamil Nadu civil supplies corporation deputing officers to assist the central team.Instead of visiting DPCs in Trichy and delta districts, the team inspected industries in Namakkal and Coimbatore that produce fortified rice kernels, used to blend with regular rice at 1:100 ratio to make nutritious fortified rice, said sources. An officer from Namakkal district administration said they were not informed of the team's visit.Chengalpet collector D Sneha said one of the teams visited several DPCs in the district between 11am and 8pm and collected paddy samples. Members interacted with farmers, who showed them sprouted paddy and requested that permissible moisture content be raised beyond the current limit of 17%.In Trichy, the district administration had made all necessary arrangements for the team's visit to the affected areas. Farmers had also been awaiting the inspection, but the visit did not take place.Meanwhile, industries minister T R B Raaja said due to coordinated efforts between Tamil Nadu civil supplies corporation and other stakeholders, particularly its loadmen, 11.5 rakes of foodgrain were loaded, marking the highest single-day loading in the history of Trichy division of Southern Railway.It may be recalled that leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami had moved a special call attention motion in the state assembly over piling up of paddy bags in the open, leading to a heated debate between ruling and opposition parties. He said more than 30 lakh paddy bags were lying exposed in delta districts and accused govt of failing to obtain prior permission from Centre to procure paddy with moisture content exceeding 17%.State minister for civil supplies R Sakkarapani had refuted charges on the floor of assembly, stating that govt had been procuring around 1,000 bags a day and had even continued procurement operations on Sundays and other govt holidays. He said state was awaiting Centre's approval to blend fortified rice with regular rice for distribution under public distribution system.