Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure timely supply of new jute gunny bags. The paddy procurement at the minimum support price in the state begins from December 1.

According to the Department of Food and Public Distribution, the Chhattisgarh State Co-operative Society Marketing Federation Headquarters has given procurement order for 2.14 lakh bales of jute bags through the Jute Commissioner, Kolkata.

Accordingly, the schedule has been issued for month-wise supply of bales: 0.19 lakh bales for August, 0.32 lakh bales for September, 0.72 lakh bales for October, 0.15 lakh bales for November and 0.76 lakh bales for December.

The state has received only 86,856 bales of new jute gunny bags so far, which is much less than the quantity as per the plan, Baghel highlighted in the letter to Modi.

Baghel stated that last year the state had an average daily requirement of 10,000 bales of gunny bags for the procurement of paddy at minimum support price.

He said the state requires 5.25 lakhs bales of gunny bags for procurement of 105 lakh tonnes of paddy for Kharif season 2021-22.

All the necessary preparations for the paddy procurement are in progress. If there is delay in supply of the required gunny bags, it will create a law and order situation in the state, he warned.

Further, the Chief Minister mentioned that the Department of Food and Public Distribution has given permission to take 61.65 lakh tonnes of rice under the central pool in the Kharif marketing year 2021-22.

The remaining 45.65 lakh tons of rice is to be deposited in the central pool under the Food Corporation of India (FCI), which also requires continuous supply of new jute bags.

Baghel has requested the Prime Minister to give directives to the Jute Commissioner Kolkata and others to ensure timely supply of new jute gunny bags as per the plan issued on November 12.