State seeks improved FCI procurement

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV. 28. Karnataka today urged the Centre to direct the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to step up its procurement operations relating to several food crops.

The State Government's case was taken up by an all- party delegation led by the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, which called on the Union Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr. Shanta Kumar, here, on Tuesday.

In a five-page memorandum to the minister, the delegation stressed the need for stepping up the FCI procurement since the market prices had not picked up on account of limited operations by the agency. Karnataka demanded that the FCI be directed to launch operations relating to maize, jowar, ragi and paddy, so as to pick up at least 10 per cent of the market landings. It also complained of inadequate number of quality inspectors and demanded that more inspectors be posted to expedite purchase operations.

The minister is said to have assured the delegation that while the FCI would step up its operations, the procured produce would be for consumption in the State. The delegation also demanded that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) in respect of paddy, maize, jowar and ragi be raised from the present levels as it did not meet the cost of expenditure. The MSP suggested was paddy fine: Rs. 600; paddy common: Rs. 560; maize: Rs. 600; jowar white: Rs. 650; jowar ordinary: Rs. 550; and, ragi: Rs. 600. The memorandum also suggested that the FCI relax the FAQ standards as was done in the case of Punjab, since paddy in Karnataka had been discoloured due to heavy rainfall.

In respect of maize, the system of market intervention and sale through the public distribution system could be approved for the State as was done in case of Andhra Pradesh, it said.

The delegation pointed out that in the edible oil sector, the State was in deep trouble with prices of groundnut and sunflower oil falling below the support price. The coconut growers too had suffered on account of adverse price situation.

Krishna meets Fernandes

PTI reports: Continuing the drive to enlist the Centre's support, Mr. Krishna met the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, and sought logistical defence support to nab the forest brigand, Veerappan.

Mr. Fernandes assured Mr. Krishna that his ministry would extend all help to the State in consultation with the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, and the Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, sources said.

Mr. Krishna briefed Mr. Vajpayee and Mr. Advani on Monday on the steps taken by both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to nab Veerappan.

The Chief Minister's meeting with the Central leaders follows official-level discussions between the Centre and the two State governments.

Last week, officials of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka sought Central assistance in the joint operation to apprehend Veerappan, while asking for sophisticated weapons, including AK47 rifles, night vision devices for use in the thick jungles, and satellite imagery.

The official delegations met the Secretaries of Defence and Home for a joint discussion on their renewed strategy to nab the bandit who held the Kannada film star, Mr. Rajkumar, hostage for more than 100 days.

The Centre had also asked the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to jointly formulate a plan to nab Veerappan, and assured all help in their operations, top officials sources said.

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Section  : Southern States
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