555 rice mills lose licence in six dists

Authorities have cancelled licences of 555 rice mills in six districts for their failure to supply rice and paddy to the government godowns at official rates during the ongoing rice and paddy procurement drive.
Licences of 352 rice mills in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Joypurhat districts have been cancelled, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.
One hundred and seventy-four of the mills are in Thakurgaon, 126 in Dinajpur, 31 in Panchagarh and 21 in Joypurhat district, said sources at district Food Control Office.
Authorities also disconnected power supply of 215 rice mills in the four northern districts.
However, other 3,560 mills in four northern districts are supplying rice and paddy to government godowns as per the agreement, sources said.
The Irri-Boro procurement target in Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Joypurahat is 1,27,593 tonnes, 93,241 tonnes, 22,750mt and 39,000 metric tones while the amount of procurement is 22,850 tonnes, 53,000 tonnes, 13,700 tonnes and 24,000 tonnes so far, food department sources said. The procurement will continue till August 31.
Our Rangpur Correspondent reports: Food department cancelled licence of 175 rice mills in Rangpur.
A total of 572 rice mill owners signed the agreement to help the government in procuring rice. Rest 175 mill owners did not make any contact with the food department.
Our Satkhira Correspondent adds: Satkhira district controller of food has cancelled licences of 28 rice mills for not supplying rice to government godowns.
Against the target to procure 16,403 tonnes of rice and 4,759 tonnes of paddy from the district in this season, only 8,100 tonnes of rice and 1,761 tonnes of paddy have been collected so far, officials said.