Patna,(BiharTimes): The leader of opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council Sushil Kumar Modi has criticized the state government for not achieving the target of paddy procurement.

Talking to the media he said against a target of procuring 30 lakh tonnes of paddy by March 31, the state government had purchased less than 10 lakh tonnes till date. According to him Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACSs) were to procure 24 lakh tonnes, while State Food Corporation (SFC) was to procure the remaining six lakh tonnes.

He said 6,772 PACSs have procured only 8.33 lakh tonnes of paddy till March 12 evening.The former deputy CM sought a high-level probe into the huge financial irregularities in the functioning of SFC. He alleged that there was a nexus between middlemen and officials in procuring paddy from farmers of Uttar Pradesh in a fraudulent manner.

He said since the Bihar government is paying a bonus amount of Rs 330 per quintal, paddy farmers from Uttar Pradesh are sending their produce here through middlemen.SuMo said that 90% of procurement is fake and added that the state government was supposed to enter into an agreement with 763 rice mill-owners, but till date only 10% agreements have been made.

He said in January last, the then Manjhi cabinet sanctioned Rs 500 crore for payment to farmers but till March 12 evening, the said amount had not been withdrawn from the state treasury.On Friday the BJP MLCs created uproarious scene for the second consecutive day in the Upper House over the issue of tardy paddy procurement by government agencies.