CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has procured 11.09 lakh metric tonnes of paddy so far during the current kharif season against the target of 26 lakh metric tonnes. Compared to the procurement during the corresponding period in the past 10 years, this is the highest. During the Kuruvai season alone, 5.24 lakh tonnes were procured through the 1,451 procurement centres.Food Minister R Kamaraj said this while chairing a review meet of his department on Thursday. He said the high procurement was due to the opening of the Mettur dam in advance (on June 6) and the steps taken by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for the welfare of farmers. So far, `67.84 crore has been paid to the farmers as incentive. Ration CardsAs on Dec 31, 2011, 1,97,70,682 ration cards are in use and of this, 1,77,18,574 cards have been renewed till Feb 12. The renewal process will be completed by Feb 28. Kamaraj also said at present, godowns with a storage capacity of 6.42 lakh metric tonnes are available and the CM had ordered construction of more godowns to store 45,000 tonnes at Madurantakam, Chinnasalem, Kovilpatti, Karaikudi and Aruppukottai.
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