Haryana : Rs 2,800-crore Custom-Milled Rice stockpile triggers boycott call by rice millers
Haryana rice millers have threatened to boycott CMR operations from the upcoming October 1 procurement season, alleging that FCI has not accepted 6.5 lakh MT of CMR worth ₹2,800 crore. They are demanding stock acceptance, pending milling dues, storage compensation and protection against deterioration losses.
With huge stocks of Custom-Milled Rice (CMR) lying in rice mills across the state, allegedly due to non-acceptance by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), rice millers under the banner of the Haryana Rice Millers and Dealers Association have announced a boycott of CMR operations in the coming procurement season — which is expected to start on October 1.
According to the association, around 6.5 lakh MT of CMR worth nearly Rs 2,800 crore from the last procurement season is yet to be accepted by the FCI, despite meetings with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rajesh Nagar, and the Director of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.
The millers also recently staged a dharna outside the Directorate’s office in Chandigarh.
The decision was taken at a meeting in Karnal chaired by Jewel Singla, chairman of the association, and Hansraj Singla, president. The District Karnal Rice Millers and Dealers Association, led by president Raj Kumar Gupta and vice-president Rajinder Monga, backed the state association’s stand and expressed concern over the prolonged delay in the acceptance and settlement of CMR.
The millers pointed out that the Union government had fixed a target of 55 lakh MT for paddy procurement, while around 62 lakh MT was procured by government agencies and allotted to nearly 1,400 rice millers across the state.
“On our repeated requests, the Union government extended the deadline for delivery of CMR to the FCI up to September 30, 2026, but the FCI has restricted its officials from accepting further stocks. We are helpless as around 6.5 lakh MT of processed rice has been lying in the mills and the FCI is not accepting it. If it is not accepted, we will be placed on the government’s defaulter list and will not be able to participate in the CMR process in the coming season,” said Jewel Singla.
He further said that millers were not registering for the upcoming season as their stocks had not been accepted and payments for milling and transportation were yet to be disbursed, leading to resentment among them.
“We will not participate in CMR operations in the next season until our issues are resolved,” he added.
“The government should provide storage charges as well as proper damage cover for discolouration of rice. When millers are made responsible for holding the stock, they should also be compensated for the expenses and risks involved in storing it,” said Hansraj Singla, president of the association.
He also raised concerns over delays in the disbursement of milling-related dues. “Milling dues are not disbursed on time. This creates unnecessary financial pressure on millers and also invites corruption and irregularities,” he alleged.
Raj Kumar Gupta, president of the Karnal association, said all rice millers in Karnal supported the state association and would not register until their demands were fulfilled.
Rajinder Monga, vice-president of the Karnal association, said millers had consistently cooperated with the government during procurement operations and assisted the administration by providing storage space and crates for wheat whenever required.
“We have always cooperated with the government and provided space and crates for wheat whenever there was a requirement, but our problems regarding CMR must also be addressed,” he added.
Sourabh Gupta, president of the Karnal Rice Millers and Dealers Association, urged the state government to intervene and approach the Union government to resolve their issues.
“We demand timely acceptance of rice, settlement of outstanding milling dues, compensation for storage and holding charges, and protection against losses caused by discolouration and deterioration of stocks,” he added.
Rajinder Raheja, senior vice-president of the District Karnal Rice Millers and Dealers Association, said the millers had been seeking permission to deliver CMR since June 30, but received no response. Millers in Punjab were granted permission on July 3, and their entire stock was being accepted.
“We received permission from the Union government at the end of July, but despite this, the FCI is not accepting our CMR,” he added.
Hansraj Vasudeva, senior member of the association, reiterated the demand and said all rice millers were united on the issue.
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Source : The Tribune
