Crackdown on Millers Leads to Record CMR Collection in Telangana
Hyderabad, January 29 – The state government in Telangana has intensified its efforts to address long-standing delays caused by millers in the conversion of grain into rice under the Custom Milling Rice (CMR) system. Recent measures implemented by the new government have significantly accelerated the CMR process, marking a substantial increase in collection rates.
Over the past 50 days, CMR rates surged by an impressive 40 percent, reflecting a commendable effort by rice millers. With a target of 43.73 lakh tonnes of rice delivery to the Civil Supplies Corporation for the 2022-23 monsoon season, a significant portion of the pending supply has been expedited. In just 50 days, starting from mid-December to January 27, approximately 14.50 lakh tonnes of CMR were successfully procured, averaging 30 thousand tonnes per day. Notably, on January 27 alone, a staggering 56,843 tonnes of CMR were collected, marking a historic milestone for civil supplies.
Civil Supplies Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has been vocal about the debts and irregularities plaguing the organization since assuming office. He highlighted the staggering debts of Rs. 56 thousand crores and losses amounting to Rs. 11,500 crores, largely attributed to the negligence of the previous administration. Under his leadership, stringent measures have been taken to address these issues, including cracking down on defaulting millers.
The implementation of a cohesive strategy has been instrumental in the success of the CMR initiative. Special attention has been directed towards CMR under the supervision of Commissioner DS Chauhan, who has diligently overseen daily operations. Vigilance teams, alongside district collectors and additional collectors, have been deployed to address delays promptly. With just two days remaining until the deadline set by the central government, authorities remain focused on maximizing rice procurement from millers.
Despite significant progress, challenges persist in certain districts where CMR remains pending. Special efforts are underway to expedite rice collection in districts such as Vanaparthi, Nagarkurnool, Medak, Kamareddy, Nirmal, Jagityala, Peddapalli, and Suryapet.
The financial burden resulting from delays in CMR delivery has prompted urgent action from authorities. The Civil Supplies Corporation, tasked with ensuring timely rice delivery to the Food Corporation of India (FCI), faces mounting debts due to millers’ non-compliance.
Commissioner DS Chauhan expressed optimism about the ongoing efforts, emphasizing the collaborative approach adopted to tackle the CMR backlog. With strategic interventions yielding positive outcomes, authorities remain committed to maintaining momentum in CMR collection efforts.
