Bihar deputy chief minister S K Modi on Tuesday praised the existing system of procurement of paddy and Public Distribution System (PDS) in Chhattisgarh and said his government too has decided to implement similar system in the state.

"The system of procurement of paddy and PDS are very good in Chhattisgarh... even the planning commission has praised it. We have also decided to implement similar type of arrangements in Bihar," he told reporters here.

They have decided to ensure purchase of paddy and wheat through Primary Agriculture Cooperatives (PACs) in the selected districts under a pilot project during the next Kharif season.

He said the state government had planned to equip 8500 PACs with computers and link them with headquarters which would ensure early survey of crops of farmers for purchase of foodgrains during the Kharif season.

"Every PAC will have the storage capacity of 200 tonnes of foodgrains and we have started work on 2200 PACs at present," he said.

Modi, who undertook a visit to the naxal-hit state of Chhatisgarh recently, said the state government would use vehicles for transportation of foodgrains directly to PDS shops and godowns and the message would be circulated to the people through SMS.

All these steps will be taken to wipe out black marketing of the foodgrains, he pointed out and said the state government had also decided not to allot the work of PDS to an individual but to a PAC or self-help groups.

The deputy chief minister criticised the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for its alleged apathy towards purchase of foodgrains and their storage.