CHENNAI: In an attempt to ensure total transparency in procurement process at the Direct Procurement Centres, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced a slew of measures.
One of the important announcements, which Chief Minister Jayalalithaa termed as a flagship initiative, was the proposal to set up an integrated modern rice mill with a capacity to handle 30,000 metric tonnes of paddy at Valangaiman in Tiruvarur at a cost of Rs 20 crore.
This would avoid delay in bringing rice meant for PDS from rice mills and the increasing transportation charges, Jayalalithaa said.
She announced setting up of two godowns of 10,000 metric tonne capacity each at Kottur and Needamangalam in the district at a total cost of Rs 40 crore. She said silos would be set up in Thanjavur and Thiruvarur district, each with a capacity to handle 15,000 metric tonnes, at a total cost of Rs 40 crore.
The Chief Minister also announced setting up of five godowns, at a total cost of Rs 18.50 crore. The godowns would come up in Ambasamudram, Arakkonam, Namakkal, Manamadurai and Cuddalore districts this year.
Among other announcements were construction of new buildings for 50 DPCs at a cost of Rs 20 crore, own buildings for 90 primary agriculture cooperative societies, new buildings for two primary cooperative and rural development banks at a cost of Rs 40 lakh, buildings for nine branches of Central cooperative banks amd two branches of urban cooperative banks at a cost of Rs 9.40 crore and modernisation of 79 cooperative associations at a cost of Rs 12.45 crore.