**Bhubaneswar:** Procurement of paddy for the Kharif season has been started in seven districts across State, including six of Western Odisha and one of Southern Odisha, informed Food Supplies and Cooperation Minister Surya Narayan Patro today.
The Kharif paddy procurement has started in Nuapada, Kalahandi, Bolangir, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Bargarh and Koraput districts, said Patro adding approximately, 1,68,000 metric tonne paddy have been procured till date including 893 quintal in Nuapada.
Talking about a news item, where farmers were seen sleeping over a heap of paddy in Kalahandi district on Saturday, Patro said that he has sought clarification in this regard from the District Civil Supply Officer and Collector.
He further informed that, reportedly, the truck owners of Kalahandi had disassociated themselves from the procurement process. The departmental secretary had stated that they were demanding enhancement of transportation charges which had not been hiked in the last four years.
Kalahandi Collector has informed that the issue has been resolved and no other major incident has been reported from any other district, said Patro.
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