SAMBALPUR: Officials of Food and Civil Supplies and Revenue Departments recovered around 20,000 bags of paddy stocked in five rice mills while conducting raids across the town on Monday.
Sources said the owners of these mills failed to give satisfactory reply to the officials regarding the unaccounted stock. The paddy procurement in the district is scheduled to start from November 15. Tehsildar of Sambalpur Debendra Nanda said the district administration had received complaints about distress sale of paddy and some millers offering it for lower prices.
Considering the plight of farmers due to the alleged pest attacks, district Collector Samarth Verma had directed for the raid. Sources revealed that the Collector is likely to initiate action against the owners of the five rice mills.
The availability of paddy in the mills before procurement of the crop has raised questions pertaining to illegal trans-border trade. The officials will undertake a detailed stock checking on Tuesday and send show cause notices to the rice millers. “If the owners of the mills fail to provide satisfactory explanation, legal action will be initiated against them,” said Nanda.