Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 10:
FCS Minister Y Erabot accompanied by officials went to Chandel district headquarters yesterday and inspected sites for construction of an FCS godown of 25000 metric tonnes of rice and establishment of a consumers' court.
During his visit, the FCS Minister held a meeting with the public leaders and district level officials at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Chandel.
The meeting discussed Public Distribution System in the district.
The public leaders, on their part, highlighted the existing impasse in the selection of transport contractors and unavailability of PDS items like rice, kerosene etc in interior and remote villages.
To these complaints of the public leaders, the Minister clarified that selection of transport contractors is no longer handled by the Department.
The entire process of lifting and distribution of rice and kerosene to the people has been entrusted to MLAs, Erabot said.
After the process has been entrusted to MLAs with some modifications in the system, some UG groups, as they allegedly realised that they cannot deduct their percentages from the rice and kerosene quotas allotted to people under the modified system, have decided to suspend their earlier practice, he claimed.
He also appealed to the people to inform him through his mobile phone if there is any complain of beneficiaries not receiving PDS items or any one found hoarding PDS items in unauthorised manner.
To a query about the large number of vehicles including oil tankers currently stranded on highways due to the economic blockade and subsequent escalation in prices of essential commodities, the FCS Minister stated that transportation of petrol is not the responsibility of the FCS Department.
It is the responsibility of the Home Department to bring the stranded vehicles to Imphal, he added.
As regards the rise in prices of essential commodities, Erabot conceded that he has no idea about who is actually controlling prices in markets.
He also conveyed deep concern over the prevailing volatile law and order
situation.
To construct an FCS godown of capacity of 2500 metric tonnes of rice at the cost of Rs 2 crores within a specific period, the FCS Minister asked the concerned officials of Chandel district to provide one acre of land.
Clarifying that there is no provision of land compensation in the Rs 2 crores sanctioned, Erabot said that a family member of the land owner may be provided job in the godown.