Wheat supply halted due to previous BJD govt; Odisha govt assures rice distribution to beneficiaries
Odisha’s previous BJD government halted wheat supply, opting for rice in the PDS, causing logistical issues. Food Minister Krushna Chandra Patra criticized poor storage and procurement under BJD, leading to stockpiles and wastage. The new BJP-led government vows to improve warehousing, procurement, and distribution, ensuring food security. The Centre has approved rice distribution, addressing past inefficiencies.
The supply of wheat to Odisha was stopped under the previous Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government, as revealed in the Odisha Assembly by Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra on Wednesday.
During a discussion in the House, the Minister disclosed that the then BJD government had requested the central government to provide rice instead of wheat for distribution under the public distribution system (PDS).
This decision led to a complete halt in wheat supply to Odisha, affecting thousands of beneficiaries who depended on it. While rice was being provided in place of wheat, logistical challenges and procurement mismanagement resulted in delays and storage issues, further complicating food distribution in the state.
BJP Government In Odisha Ensures Rice Distribution to Beneficiaries
Minister Krushna Chandra Patra assured the House that the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is committed to providing rice to all eligible beneficiaries across the state. He stated that the Odisha government’s request for rice distribution had been formally approved by the central government, ensuring that people dependent on the PDS would not face any shortages.
However, the Minister acknowledged that several logistical challenges, including storage constraints and transportation issues, had caused delays in the arrival of wheat supplies to Odisha. These issues were largely due to inadequate planning and infrastructure gaps left unaddressed by the previous administration. The government is now working on resolving these issues to ensure that food grains reach the people efficiently and on time.
“When BJD was in power, the state government then had written to the Centre demanding stoppage of wheat and supply of rice. After the BJP government came to power, we had written to the Centre requesting the supply of wheat. The concerned department had already released the first instalment of wheat. However, due to a lack of proper godowns and transportation, storage has not been possible. We have a surplus of 15 lakh metric tonnes of rice and we will make provision for godowns as the previous BJD government had not taken steps in this regard,” said Patra.
BJD Government Criticized for Poor Storage and Procurement Management
Aside from the wheat supply issue, Minister Patra also criticized the previous BJD government for its poor handling of paddy storage and procurement. He highlighted that even after the Food Corporation of India (FCI) procured paddy from farmers, Odisha still had a surplus stock of nearly 15 lakh metric tons. Due to the lack of sufficient storage facilities and inefficient warehouse management, a significant portion of this paddy stock remained unutilized, causing distress among farmers.
The failure of the previous administration to establish proper storage mechanisms and clear procurement guidelines resulted in paddy stocks piling up without an efficient system for distribution and management. The BJD government’s inability to handle the food supply chain effectively became a major issue, with surplus stocks often going to waste due to a lack of proper facilities.
Odisha Government’s Commitment to Strengthening Food Security
The new BJP-led Odisha government in Odisha has pledged to address these critical issues by focusing on improving warehousing facilities, enhancing procurement strategies, and streamlining the distribution process. Authorities are working on upgrading storage units, ensuring proper transportation of food grains, and creating policies that prevent unnecessary wastage of agricultural produce.
Minister Patra emphasized that Odisha’s food supply system needed urgent reforms, and the government is now taking necessary steps to implement better storage infrastructure, faster procurement processes, and a more transparent PDS system.
No comments could be obtained from the BJD leaders over the statements of the Minister.
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Source : Odisha TV
