Rice shortage lurks
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 06 2018:
With the rice stock at the State's FCI godown depleted severely, the State may face shortage of rice as the rainy season progresses.
Talking to The Sangai Express, FCI District Office Imphal Area Manager M Rupam said that rice stock at the FCI godown has been fast depleting as FCI transporters have been shipping limited quantity of rice following restrictions on the weight of trucks travelling on both Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway.
All trucks plying on both the National Highways have been prohibited from carrying over 24/25 tonnes including their own weights.
Till July 4, there were 918 metric tonnes of rice and 2180 metric tonnes of wheat at the Sangaiprou godown.
There were 1475 metric tonnes of rice and 498 metric tonnes of wheat at the Koirengei godown.
Moreover, there are 1688 metric tonnes of rice at the FCI godown of Ukhrul, 3177 metric tonnes at the Jiribam godown and 4271 metric tonnes of rice at the Senapati godown.
The total quantities of rice and wheat available at all the godowns of the State are 11,529 metric tonnes and 2688 metric tonnes respectively, Rupam said.
In terms of daily requirement, these stocks will last for around 28 days.
Even though 4153 metric tonnes of rice are on the way to Imphal, the existing stock of rice at FCI godowns is just 40 per cent of the optimum quantity that should be available at the godowns, he said.
Rice stock at the FCI godowns depleted alarmingly following imposition of tonnage limit on trucks plying on Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway.
Apart from the tonnage limit, transportation of rice was also restricted by landslides and dislocation of bridges along the two National highways, Now, FCI trucks can ferry only 14/15 tonnes of rice on a trip, Rupam added.