Rs1,329 crore still pending with rice millers

Patna: The state government on Wednesday admitted in the legislative council that Rs1,329 crore had been pending with the rice millers since 2011. Replying to a question of K K Singh of the BJP, food and consumer protection department minister Madan Sahni said FIRs were lodged against 1,197 mill owners and 207 of them were arrested, 817 surrendered and properties of 28 defaulters had been attached.The defaulters took paddy from the State Food Corporation but failed to return it after milling, he said.
"We are in the process to recovering the arrears from 105 rice millers," Sahni said and added that arrest warrants had been issued against 330 millers.
Replying to a question of Rajnish Kumar of BJP, the minister said ration cards were issued to 2.5 crore families as against the BPL population of 8.57 crore people covered under the Food Security Act launched in 2014. He said the government sought applications from those left out of the beneficiaries' list. "Total 102 crore people have submitted their applications and 96 lakh were found genuine. They were given cards," the minister said, adding that additional counters would be opened at block level to include those who were left out.
Leader of opposition in the council Sushil Kumar Modi sought to know how many ration cards were printed and distributed during the last one year. Modi also sought the number of food coupons distributed among the beneficiaries. But the minister kept insisting on the point that the government had distributed 2.50 crore cards, including 25 lakh to Antyodaya families.
Replying to a question of Mangal Pandey of BJP, revenue and land reforms minister Madan Mohan Jha admitted that the state government had failed to continue 'chakbandi' (land consolidation) programme in 1992. As a result, all the related employees were accommodated in some other government departments. Only 6% employees remained in the same department, the minister said.
The chakbandi programme was revived in March, 2004 on the Patna high court directive. Aerial photography is being done and it will continue for another five years to complete the survey work. After that, chakbandi programme would be implemented in all the districts.