The Centre has withheld the release of Rs 7,000 crore to the state to procure paddy for the National Food Security Act (NFSA), citing that Bengal has not put up the NFSA logo at ration shops.

“The state has already procured 8.52 lakh tonnes of paddy for the NFSA in this financial year for the central pool (to run central schemes).... But the Centre has refused to reimburse the sum saying the state did not follow central guidelines. This could leave a serious impact on paddy procurement in Bengal in the ongoing financial year,” said a senior bureaucrat.

According to sources, the Centre asked states to put up signboards and flexes with the NFSA logo and photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at all ration shops.

“Bengal did not do so despite several reminders. Moreover, acknowledgement slips that beneficiaries get from the PoS machines have the logo of Khadya Sathi, a Bengal government scheme,” said a source aware of the development.

A senior food and supplies department official admitted that although placards and flexes with the NFSA logo and Modi’s pictures arrived a few months ago, they were not put up at ration shops as there was no instruction from Nabanna.

But he claimed they were neither using the NFSA logo nor the Khadya Sathi logo in acknowledgement slips.

Sources said as the state government is yet to be reimbursed for paddy it procured on behalf of the Centre for the central pool, the immediate impact would be on paddy procurement in the ongoing Kharif season.

The state has so far procured 22 lakh tonnes of paddy, including 8.52 lakh tonnes for the central pool, against its annual target of 70 lakh tonnes this year.

“The state has set a target of procuring 80 per cent of its annual target of 70 lakh tonnes in the Kharif season.... Procurement for Kharif season continues till February-end. If the state does not get enough funds during this window, the entire process will be hit,” said a senior official.

Sources said that with available funds, the state can continue its procurement for another seven to 10 days, but after that would require a fresh sum to continue.

Paddy procurement is vital for Bengal’s ruling establishment before polls as it can reach out to nearly 70 lakh farmers by ensuring minimum support price for their produce.