nChhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursdayagreed for a 30-minute discussion over surplus paddy and milled rice after the ruling and opposition benches clashed noisily on the fourth day of the Budget session in the Assembly.

BJP's Ajay Chandrakar sought to know the quantity of paddy procured till January 31, the quantity custom milled and the remaining balance. He wanted who was responsible for the rice still left.

Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat responded that 92 lakh tonnes of paddy were procured and 32.22 lakh tonnes have been custom milled while 59.78 lakh tonnes remained. The time period to deposit    custom milled rice is September 30.

He added that in the last fiscal year, 3.44 lakh tonnes of paddy remained in stock and were kept in different centres. Last year custom milling was delayed due to Covid-19 and other factors.

Chandrakar then demanded tabling of the standard rules of milling regarding more than one year old paddy. He and the Leader of Opposition sought details of sanction granted by the Central government with dates.

Calling it a serious issue, Baghel said the state carried out procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) after the Centre objected to bonus payment.

In the current year, objections were raised regarding the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Scheme while the Centre agreed to procure 60 lakh tonnes of rice. But only 24 lakh tonnes were permitted.

Chhattisgarh will auction the balance paddy to reduce loss to the exchequer loss and to the farmers. He added that permission to set up an ethanol plant has not been cleared.

As commotion continued in the House, Baghel agreed to hold a 30-minute discussion.