Uttam sets June first week deadline to complete paddy procurement

metro india news I hyderabad

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday said Telangana's massive Yasangi paddy procurement drive was progressing successfully, with a significant portion of the procured stocks already lifted from procurement centres and transported to rice mills across the State.

As part of his ongoing field inspections, the Minister visited paddy procurement centres at Thirumalagiri and Phanigiri in Suryapet district. He reviewed procurement operations, stock lifting, transportation arrangements and payment disbursement to farmers. Tungaturthi MLA Mandula Samuel, district officials and civil supplies personnel accompanied him during the inspection.

Interacting with farmers and officials, Uttam Kumar Reddy said the State Government remained committed to purchasing every grain produced by farmers. 

He noted that the large scale movement of paddy to rice mills had reduced pressure on procurement centres and streamlined operations.

The Minister informed that Telangana had procured nearly 64 lakh metric tonnes of paddy so far through 8,575 procurement centres established across the State, making it the largest procurement network created in Telangana's history. He reiterated that even paddy affected by unseasonal rains was being purchased at the Minimum Support Price to protect farmers from losses.

Assuring farmers of the government's support, he said there was no need for concern as all eligible produce would be procured. He appreciated the efforts of district collectors, MLAs and civil supplies officials for ensuring smooth procurement operations.

Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to complete procurement operations in Suryapet district by the end of the first week of June and stated that similar instructions had been issued for neighbouring Nalgonda district. He also instructed officials to deploy all available lorries and heavy vehicles to overcome transportation bottlenecks and expedite stock movement.

Highlighting the government's commitment to timely payments, the Minister said Rs 11,500 crore had already been credited directly into the bank accounts of 9.31 lakh farmers. He added that farmers were now receiving payments within 48 to 72 hours, a significant improvement over previous years.

The Minister also criticised the Centre's procurement policy, stating that while Telangana was prepared to procure up to 75 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, the Union Government had agreed to purchase only about 51 lakh metric tonnes, placing an additional financial burden on the State. He expressed confidence that the remaining procurement would be completed on schedule and reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting farmers until the entire crop was procured and transported.

CM directs outreach to MAHA, K’taka amid drought concerns 

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday directed officials to ensure Telangana secures its rightful share of Krishna and Godavari river waters amid forecasts of possible drought conditions linked to the El Niño effect. During a review meeting on monsoon preparedness at the Secretariat, he stressed the need for advance coordination with neighbouring states to prevent water shortages.

The Chief Minister instructed irrigation officials to hold talks with Maharashtra and Karnataka to ensure interstate waters are released on a pro rata basis. He also asked the Chief Secretary to examine the possibility of Telangana utilizing water from Maharashtra’s Koyna Dam in exchange for supplying electricity to that state.

Revanth Reddy called for a comprehensive strategy to utilize floodwaters from the Godavari and Pranahita rivers, noting that large quantities of water flow into the sea every year. He also sought a report on Telangana’s share of power generated from the Sileru and Tungabhadra projects.

Reviewing reservoir conditions, he ordered immediate completion of dam gate repairs before the monsoon. Officials informed him that Rs 300 crore had already been released for the works.

The Chief Minister assured additional funds if necessary and warned of strict action for any lapses. He also directed agriculture officials to promote crop diversification and less water-intensive crops through awareness campaigns and AI-based videos. Reviewing Hyderabad’s flood mitigation measures, Revanth Reddy ordered faster construction of water harvesting wells and stressed uninterrupted drinking water supply and coordinated disaster management during the monsoon.