Centre fires four questions to State Govt
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 07 2016:
The State Government’s proposal to increase the quota of rice allocated to the State under National Food international Security Act NFSA ) by 3 per cent for transportation loss was responded by the Centre by raising four questions.
A source in CAF&PD Department said that there is loss of rice in the process of transferring rice from the State godown to district godowns and from district godowns to fair price shops.
With a view to make up this loss, the State Government made a proposal to the Central Government to increase the State’s NFSA rice quota by 3 per cent.
However, the Central Government responded by raising four queries.
The Central Government was asking the reasons for loss of rice, the exact quantity of rice lost, particulars of the official or authority who should take responsibility for transportation loss and whether the State Government has discussed the matter with the FCI.
The State CAF&PD Department would reply all the queries raised by the Central Government, informed the source.
It is reported that there would not be more than 15 days’ time for lifting rice which could not be lifted in time.
Earlier, the State Government was given 15 days’ additional period by FCI Imphal regional office when the Government could not lift rice allotted under NFSA.
If the Government failed to lift rice during the additional 15 days, the Executive Director of FCI Zonal Office, Guwahati used to give another additional 15 days for lifting rice.
If the State Government still failed to lift rice within the second extension period, it got a third extension for another 15 days after due communications were made between the State Government and the Ministry of CAF&PD.
However, the State Government would not get any second or third extensions except for the first extension period of 15 days given by the FCI Imphal regional office.
Notably, 1871 MT of rice out of the total quantity allocated under NFSA for the month of July could not be lifted till date as the same was not lifted in time.
To lift the 1871 MT of rice, the State Government was given first and second extension periods of 15 days each by FCI Imphal regional office and FCI Guwahati zonal office.
Still the State Government could not lift the rice.
As such, the State Government is likely to lose the 1871 MT of rice, added the source.