Bhubaneswar, Nov 23: Odisha Food Supplies Minister Krushna Chandra Patra has warned the mill owners over their purchase of paddy from farmers.

"Mill owners cannot buy paddy directly from farmers," said Patra, adding: "They can only buy paddy from 'Mandis' (godowns), fixed by the government, at a fixed price."

The statement came after several cases came to government's notice where the mill owners were buying bulk amount of paddy directly from the farmers at a very low price and increasing their stock.

Krushna Chandra Patra, who is also the Minister of Consumer Welfare, warned that if any mill owner buys paddy directly from farmers, the mill will be sealed.

"Strict action will also be taken against the mill owners and the mill will be blacklisted," he added. Once the mill gets blacklisted, it won't function anymore and its business will be shut down.

He also shared a similar case in Nuapada, where a mill owner purchased 500 quintals of paddy for Rs 1700 per quintal directly from a farmer. "That mill has been sealed," informed the Food Supplies Minister.

Patra said that if someone does something like this, strict action will be taken against the person. "Most of the farmers are rushing into selling their paddy and some brokers as well as mill owners are taking advantage of their situation," explained Krushna Chandra Patra.

The Food Supplies Minister, therefore, urged the farmers to bring the paddy to 'Mandis' the tokens are being distributed. "The government will buy the paddy on the same day and the stock will not go to waste at the 'Mandis'," he concluded.

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