Odisha to auction 13 Lakh MT surplus rice if FCI fails to lift stock: Minister

Bhubaneswar, Sep 24 (UNI) The Odisha government will auction its surplus rice if the Food Corporation of India (FCI) fails to lift the excess stock, State Food Supplies and Consumer
Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra informed the Assembly today.
Replying to a question from BJD legislator Pratap Keshari Deo, the Minister stated that the state
had procured 92 lakh metric tons of paddy, yielding around 63 lakh metric tons of rice after milling.
Out of this, 50 lakh metric tons were distributed through the Public Distribution System (PDS) and the FCI, leaving a surplus of 13 lakh metric tons.
The Minister said the state has urged the Centre to direct FCI to lift the surplus stock and expressed hope for a positive response.

However, he clarified that if FCI does not act, the government will proceed with auctioning the surplus rice to prevent wastage.
Patra also informed the House that additional rice allocations have been made to 11 districts, and construction of new godowns with a capacity of 10 lakh metric tons is underway.
Responding to a supplementary question by BJD Deputy Leader Prasanna Acharya, the Minister said the state government has so far received Rs.2,000 crore out of the pending Rs.10,000 crore
for rice lifted by FCI over the last eight years.
He added that the state has requested the Centre to release the remaining Rs.8,000 crore in arrears, but no response has been received so far.