Farmers stage flash protest as officials reject paddy unloading at rice mill in Khammam

Paddy farmers in Khammam protested after the district supply officer halted unloading at Konijerla’s Raju Rice Mill, citing milling limits. Waiting four days, farmers faced losses. The protest ended when officials allowed unloading

Khammam: Paddy farmers have staged a flash protest as the district supply officer prevented unloading of paddy bags allotted to a mill at Konijerla in the district on Monday.

According to Telangana Rythu Sangham district secretary Bonthu Rambabu farmers have brought paddy to Konijerla’s Raju Rice Mill designated to mill rabi paddy. For the last four days, tractors and trucks were parked at the mill and were waiting for unloading paddy bags.

During afternoon hours the DSO Chandan Kumar came to the rice mill and in the presence of farmers told him not to unload paddy bags as the milling limit allotted to the mill was over. If paddy bags were unloaded beyond the limit, the farmers concerned would not be paid.

The farmers told the DSO it was no right for him to stop unloading of paddy as they waited for four days, paid the additional rent to the vehicles and also accepted for the deduction of wastage. They appealed to the DSO not to trouble the farmers but the official left the spot without paying heed to their grievance.

Then the angry farmers staged a flash protest on the main road next to the mill. On learning about the issue Rambabu, Progressive Farmers’ Association leaders K Arjun Rao and CY Pullaiah joined the protest extending in solidarity.

They said that the vehicles carrying paddy arrived at the mill only after the staff at procurement centres issued acknowledgment slips to farmers to unload paddy at the designated mill. Asking the mill owner not to unload paddy at the last moment would cause loss to farmers.

Konijerla tahsildar as well as the local SI reached the spot and appraised the higher officials about the issue. The protest was called off as the officials agreed to unload paddy from vehicles waiting in the queue at the mill.