Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai: Maharashtra Tribal Welfare Minister Babanrao Pachpute has blamed Union Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for the wastage of more than two tonnes of rice that has been rotting in a godown in Gadchiroli district.
A news channel quoted Pachpute as saying: "The Central government buys the paddy crops. The Tribal Development Ministry just works as a facilitator. It's the Central government's job to process and store the crops which they have failed."
The timing is crucial since there is a drought-like situation in Maharashtra and the state government has asked for Rs 2,281.37 crore and five lakh tonne foodgrain at BPL rates from the Centre to tackle such situation in 15 districts of the state.
First Published: Sunday, August 12, 2012, 09:18