In a shocking incident, Nearly 5 crore gunny bags worth Rs 203 crore have been missing for the last five years. On this Civil supplies commissioner C.V. Anand has ordered a special drive to recover gunny bags from rice millers.

The government had supplied stocks in these gunny bags for customised milling rice meant for public distribution system.  The millers failed to return the bags and the government is facing severe shortage to make fresh paddy purchases from farmers for the kharif season.

Mr Anand held a video conference with joint collectors and department officials of all districts on Sunday. He asked officials to open paddy purchasing centres in all distrits from Monday and ensure payment of government announced minimum support price (Rs 1,470 for general variety and Rs 1,510 for Grade-A variety per quintal) for farmers.

He said "officials have to increase these centres to 2,000 against 1,671 set up last year and ensure all facilities for farmers in market yards besides tarpaulins to protect food grains from damage in case of rain. He directed that the purchase and payment process should be made online to check irregularities. Officials to complete the division of the 86 lakh ration cards among the 31 newly formed districts by October 20."

BY M.DIVYA SRI