CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has stayed recoveries to be made from the rice millers on account of differential cost of custom milled and levy rice bags for the years 1997-98 to 2000-01 on the request of rice mills.

According to an official spokesman instructions have been issued to the district controllers that till final decisions were received from the government of India, the millers would be required to deposit Rs.2.25 per quintal on account of the differential between 1% acquisition cost of one quintal of paddy and 1% of MSP.He said that the agencies would retain Rs. 6.75 per quintal allowed by the government of India and a benefit of 1 Kg. paddy per quintal would be passed on to the millers.