JOIN USGovt dodging to pay our dues, say rice millers
The Karnataka State Rice Millers’ Association (KSRMA) has said it would seek legal recourse and stay away from the custom rice milling tender process if the government did not clear its dues.
The KSRMA, whom the government is said to owe Rs 44 crore, has accused the food and civil supplies department of dodging paying the dues.
“In the last eight months, the government has not paid us our dues of Rs 44 crore. It has been giving one excuse or the other. Be it quality or quantity, the department is reluctant to clear the dues,” KSRMA’s executive president N R Vishwaradhya said. He even accused the department of using “scare tactics” to prevent rice millers from seeking their dues.
“On account of these issues, the association in its meeting has passed a resolution not to take part in the custom milling tenders, and seek legal recourse if the dues are not paid.
A memorandum in this regard has been submitted to Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, Dinesh Gundu Rao,” Vishwaradhya added. According to the levy orders issued by the department, “custom milling” means milling of paddy, not belonging to the miller, into rice in his rice mill on payment of milling charges in cash or in kind.