I Will Not Tolerate Millers’ Blackmail: CM Revanth Reddy

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy held a review meeting on the Civil Supplies Department at the MCR HRD Bodhi Pavilion in Hyderabad. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy, Civil Supplies Corporation Chairman Stephen Ravindra, CMO Chief Secretary Seshadri and other senior officials attended the meeting. The Chief Minister directed officials to recover outstanding dues from rice millers who have deliberately defaulted on payments. He called for a clear mechanism to recover the arrears and instructed officials to discuss the matter in the Cabinet Sub-Committee before taking a decision. Stressing that recovery of dues should be the primary objective, Revanth Reddy said that he would not tolerate any blackmail by rice millers.

The Chief Minister also asked officials to explore the possibility of taking over rice mills that deliberately default and handing them over to women’s self-help groups. He said milling responsibilities could also be entrusted to women’s groups if necessary. Officials were directed to make full use of warehouses available in the market and launch a pilot project in five constituencies for constructing warehouses across 50 to 100 acres. Areas with high paddy production should be selected for the pilot project, while funds from the rural employment guarantee scheme should be utilised for warehouse construction. A nodal officer is also to be appointed for every district.