Rice transporters suspend service
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 12 2013:
Even though Imphal-based officials of Food Corporation of India (FCI) allayed apprehension that there might be shortage of PDS rice in Manipur, rice transporters have reportedly ceased service for about a month consequent to certain dispute over bill payment to the transporters.
It is said that transport sub-contractors engaged in shipping in rice from the Dimapur FCI godown have suspended service as there is had been disagreement on issuance of bill payment at Imphal, described as the ending point of the rice transport route.
When a media team enquired on the matter, officials at the FCI godown in sangaiprou informed that the last shipment was recorded on october 12 when a few loaded trucks returned from the commercial town of Nagaland.
On further enquiry at the Moirangkhom (Yaiskul Police Lane) office of FCI today, Area Manager G kamei said inspite of the transporters suspending service at the present juncture there will be no shortage of rice in Manipur.
From October 12 till date, the 13,090 metric tonne capacity FCI godown at Sangaiprou has 8245 MT rice stock, 4316 MT in the Ukhrul godown, 2897 MT at the Koirengei facility and 1170 MT at Jiribam, said the Area Manager informing that rice transportation from the Dimapur godown is handled by one WI Enterprises.
On a monthly basis FCI issues permit for shipment of 5000 MT rice from Dimapur to WI Enterprises, Kamei said adding that the transport agency has stopped lifting rice since October 10 .
nevertheless, the Area Manager said some trucks have lifted rice from Dimapur some days back out of which some of the load would be off-loaded at the newly constructed FCI godown in Mayangkhang Ningthoubung of Senapati district tomorrow.
Citing insufficient number of trucks at the transport agency's disposal for the current suspension of rice shipment, he also confided that the FCI office has forwarded railway authorities' intimation for 'demurrage charge' to the transport agency.
Demurrage charge is said be monetary penalty served to the transport agency for delay in lifting the consignment from the rail bogeys.
With regard to the demand by transport sub contractors for bill payment facility here, kamei said the issue has already been raised by the Chief Minister with a formal intimation to the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prof KV thomas on September 29 .
The proposal for opening of a FCI regional office in Imphal is due to frequent insurgency related incidents as well as poor transport infrastructure and lack man-power along the Imphal-Dimapur route.
On the otherhand, sub-contractors engaged in shipment of rice from Dimapur contended that they ceased service as truck owners are unwilling to provide their vehicles as there is no agreement on encashment of transport bill in Imphal.
Information has also been received about lack of consensus among the 17 sub-contractors of WI Enterprises with some insisting the bill encashment facility be available here even as some others are in favour of such facility at Dimapur on the ground that activists of armed groups frequently intervene in the financial (Bill) matters.
Comment
