Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

Capt govt cuts security for rice millers to ₹7.25 lakh from ₹10 lakh

- HT Correspond­ents letterschd@hindustant­imes.com ■

CHANDIGARH: In light of the ongoing strike by a group of rice millers, Punjab food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said the state government had slashed levy security from ₹10 lakh to ₹7.25 lakh. He added that the decision was taken to save farmers from any harassment and to meet demands of rice millers.

This was decided at a meeting held under the chairmansh­ip of Ashu and rural developmen­t and panchayats minister, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa.

Prominent rice millers of the state, including the Gian Bharadwaj Group and the Rakesh Jain Group were present. “The entire levy security would be refundable now, against the previous system of ₹5 lakh refundable and ₹5 lakh non-refundable,” he added, saying this was a big respite for rice millers.

“Rice millers who apply before October 10, 2019, would be allotted paddy on priority and without pro rata cut, the quantum of the release orders of those millers will also be increased,” the minister said.

SECTION OF MILLERS TO BOYCOTT POLICY

PATIALA: Punjab Rice Millers Associatio­n has reiterated its call to boycott the Punjab Custom Milling Policy for paddy.

There is also a New Punjab Rice Millers’ Associatio­n.

The Punjab associatio­n also called a general House meeting in Kotkapura on October 15 and has decided that millers, affiliated to them, will neither provide gunny bags nor execute the shelling agreement for milling.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Punjab food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and rural developmen­t and panchayats minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa at a meeting with rice millers on Wednesday.
HT PHOTO Punjab food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and rural developmen­t and panchayats minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa at a meeting with rice millers on Wednesday.

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