Disruptions in shifting grains from purchase centres

Medak: The delay of several days in unloading of lorries and tractors at rice mills is causing disruption of shifting of grains from the purchase centres across Medak district, although these centres are receiving heavy stocks. There are brisk sales at the centres.

There would not have been any problem if the grains were moved to the mill soon after weighing. Less number of mills (there are hundreds) and inadequate lorries are causing problems. Another issue is that the total Rabi paddy output of boiled rice is to be moved to 28 para-boiled mills, whereas there are 169 grin purchasing centres, from where the paddy is moved to the mills, as per plans prepared by the Civil Supplies department.

Twenty-six of these mills have a capacity of four tones each. The department officials have decided that 4,000 tonnes of grain is to be moved to each mill, while 6,000 tonnes each to the rest two mills. Accordingly the grain is being weighed before transportation to the mills in lorries and tractors, which are not getting emptied for periods ranging from two to four days.

As many as 160 lorries have been arranged for shifting paddy from the purchase centres. As a result stocks are piling up at the centres. Keeping this in view officials have permitted use of tractors to move paddy to the mills. Fewer number of hamalis and inadequate storage space at the mills and milling to the capacity are also adding to the problem of the vehicles getting emptied for days. As a result rows of lorries and tractors are being seen at the mills. This is making farmers wait at the procurement centres.