Basmati rice millers demand exemption from market fee

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, July 31

The District Rice Millers’ Association, Fazilka, has demanded exemption in market fees and Rural Development Fund (RDF) on the pattern of the mega industry being set up in Punjab under the Invest Punjab Scheme to save the rice mill industry of the district.

Rice millers have pleaded that these additional incentives had been granted to the mega units despite the fact that the incentives were not mentioned in the original policy.

“This is in addition to the exemption from electricity duty, stamp duty and interest-free loans etc. The extra incentive comes to about 6 per cent of the cost of basmati paddy,” said Ashok Grover, president of the association.

“The old existing units of rice mills have been suffering a loss of 8 per cent, including 6 per cent incentive and additional incentive of market fees and RDF as compared to the mega units,” said Grover.