Koraput: At a time when the administration is grappling with a severe shortage of storage space for rice procured from millers, the leasing of a central warehouse to a private firm has drawn sharp criticism from locals and activists.
The warehouse, managed by the Central Warehousing Corporation, has a storage capacity of 11,400 metric tonnes (MT). However, activists allege that a significant portion of the facility was rented out to a private entity, exacerbating the storage crisis for food grains. When contacted, warehouse in-charge Santosh Kumar Panda said, “We are following the orders of our higher authorities. Our scope for intervention in this matter is limited.”
The warehouse is located near the regulated marketing committee’s market yard and falls under the purview of the ministry of consumer affairs, food, and public distribution. “Until 2020, the warehouse was utilised for storing rice and cotton. Since 2021, however, around 3,046 square yards of the warehouse was leased out, leaving minimal space for food grain storage,” said Ashok Mishra, a Rayagada-based activist.
“The warehouse should be restored to its original purpose of storing food grains, especially during a critical time like this,” he added.
Recently, the Rice Millers’ Association also urged the district administration to receive rice from them under custom milling, as they are facing problems storing rice at their mills with the paddy procurement for the kharif marketing season already underway.