Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has requested Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to arrange for additional rakes to the state for movement of foodgrains immediately.
In a letter to Banerjee today, Reddy said short supply of rakes was severely hampering the movement of foodgrains, particularly paddy, and leaving the produce exposed to the elements, thereby causing heavy loss to the farmers.
Andhra Pradesh produced 144 lakh tonnes of paddy this season. While 3.5 lakh tonnes of rice was being used every month for public distribution within the state, another four lakh tonnes was being sent to states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, the letter stated.
However, the railways arranged only 153 rakes each in April and May as against the requirement of 212 and 263 rakes respectively, the Chief Minister pointed out. Consequently, movement of foodgrains both within the state and outside was badly affected.
In order to maintain minimum support price to farmers, huge paddy is being procured by the Food Corporation of India as well as the state civil supplies corporation and there is an urgent need to store the paddy in various warehouses and move the surplus stocks to deficit areas in the country, he said.
With huge stocks of paddy lying in open places, the hard-earned labour of the farmers would go abegging with the onset of monsoon unless the stocks were swiftly transported, Reddy said.
Under these circumstances, it is requested that highest priority be given to South Central Railway for supplying the required number of rakes for foodgrain movement in Andhra Pradesh, the Chief Minister said.
