State presses union for extra paddy lift and long-pending dues

Telangana Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, met Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Prahlad Joshi, in New Delhi on Thursday and submitted a series of key requests concerning paddy procurement and pending financial dues to Telangana.

The Chief Minister urged the Union Minister to direct the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to lift an additional 18 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy procured by the State during the 2025–26 Vanakalam season. While the Centre had originally permitted procurement of 53.73 LMT, the State procured an excess 18 LMT due to higher-than-expected production. CM Revanth Reddy requested that the FCI accept the additional quantity with 10 percent broken rice tolerance.

Regarding the 2024–25 Yasangi season, Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy requested permission for milling an additional 10 LMT of boiled rice with a 5 per cent broken allowance. They also appealed for a two-month extension beyond the February 28 deadline for Custom Milled Rice (CMR) deliveries relating to the 2024–25 Vanakalam season.

The Chief Minister further pressed for the immediate release of long-pending dues amounting to ₹1,468.94 crore towards rice supplied to the FCI during the 2014–15 Vanakalam season. He informed the Union Minister that the State Government had borne the burden of additional levy procurement at that time by availing loans, and that interest liabilities have now exceeded Rs. 2,000 crore.

Additionally, the Chief Minister sought clearance of Rs. 343.27 crore pending under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana for additional rice supplied between May 2021 and March 2022, as well as rice supplied in April 2022.

Members of Parliament Dr. Mallu Ravi and Suresh Shetkar, and Central Government Schemes Coordinator Dr. Gaurav Uppal were present during the meeting.