The Tribune: Ludhiana: Sunday, July 22, 2018.
A large
number of rice mills in Ludhiana district are being run in blatant violations
of the norms laid down by the government. Even the Food and Civil Supplies
Department have failed to check these gross violations.
According to
sources, a majority of rice mills do not comply with land related norms. “These
rice mills are being run in an illegal manner in connivance with officials of
the Food and Civil Supplies Department,” stated an official on condition of
anonymity.
As per rules,
1.5 acre land is required for installing a rice mill of one tonne capacity
while 2 acre land is required to set up two tonne rice mill. Similarly, 4 acres
are required to set up rice mill with five tonne capacity.
“Most of the
rice mills are being run in violation of norms. A rice mill having capacity of
5 tonnes must have 4 acres of land but numerous rice mills do not have required
land,” claimed RTI activist Kapil Bansal.
According to
Bansal, he raised the issue with officials concerned and even lodged a
complaint. “The authorities concerned did not carry out any investigation. I
demanded record of some rice mills under the Right to Information Act. However,
I was only provided with record of those rice mills, which comply with norms,
while no record of mills which flouting rules was provided to me,” said Bansal.
District Food
Controller Rakesh Bhaskar denied of having any information about rice mills
violating land related norms. “I have not received any complaint related to
rice mills violating land norms. There might be some rice mills which were
started several years back when there was no land related rules. The department
has already directed such rice mill owners to fulfill the conditions.”
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