FCI Starts Probe Into Paddy Recycling in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: In the wake of a direction from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has begun a joint physical verification of paddy by associating teams of the state government in major rice mills in western Odisha districts where alleged massive recycling of custom milled rice has been reported to the central government.

The ministry acted upon a complaint about massive corruption in physical verification of paddy at millers’ points without taking photographic evidence of the stock for custom milling. It is claimed that Rs 15 crore exchanged hands for the recycling deal which runs into thousands of tonnes of rice and involves several rice mills. The FCI purchases custom milled rice (CMR) from states at Rs 29 a kg for the central pool. The central government reimburses the entire food subsidy of the state for rice supplied to ration card holders under National Food Security Act and other schematic programmes including mid-day meal.

According to an official communication Joint PV (physical verification) should start immediately by associating teams of the state government under videography with geo-tagging of the proceedings.
At least three teams headed by category-I officers from regional office should be constituted and they may take up verification of at least 10 per cent of mills of the revenue districts having reasonable quantum of paddy.