Market price of rice comes down
Relief Dept distributes 930 qls of rice to flood affected areas?
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 30 2011:
Like never before in the state, price for rice in the state has fallen to a remarkable level as compared to previous years.
There had been instances in the past year when a kg of rice costs ' 27 .
The heavy fall in the price of rice has become a boon for the 'social workers' in the state who are either distributing rice free of cost or at reduced rates from the market price.
It may be mentioned that a kg of Super fine rice cost ' 24 last year in the market.
A bag of 50 kg rice used to cost ' 1000 to ' 1200 in the market.
This year, the corresponding price is ' 450 to 500 in the open market.
However, the durability of the present lower price of rice is not certain since many people are suspicious that the present lower price of rice may have been politically motivated to garner votes since the general election is scheduled to be held in the beginning of next year.
According to an official of the FCI, the state government could not import enough rice in the previous year due to lack of transporters and other reasons before the onset of the rainy season.
However, this year, the state government by engaging around 300 trucks have successfully stored enough rice in the FCI storehouses at Jiribam and Dimapur.
Transporters also successfully imported enough rice from the two storehouses before the rainy season.
Since the FCI is storing more than enough rice in its storehouse at Sangaiprou, the social workers who will be contesting the general elections find it easy to buy rice loads and sell them at reduced rate from those in the open market.
Meanwhile, the Relief Department distributed around 930 quintals of rice to flood affected areas in Imphal West, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts, according to a source from the department.
However no government officials were seen in the flood affected areas distributing the rice sanctioned by the department.
Suspicions have been aroused of the possibility of 'social workers' in alliance with government officials distributing rice to take credit for the coming election.
The source from the Relief Department said 300 quintals of rice have been distributed in Nambol, Kongkham and Maibam Chingmang.
The department has sanctioned 140 quintals for Moirang and Kumbi areas and 100 quintals for Khordak, Thangalawai, Keirenphabi and Chingmei areas, 100 quintals for Sugnu A/C, 100 quintals for Kakching Sub Division, Chairen, Leishangthem, Uchiwa Mamang, Uchiwa Makha and Nungbei areas, 80 quintals for Samusang Mutum Yangbi, Santipur, Khordak Ichil, Laphupat Tera, Komlakhong and Phubakchao areas in Mayang Imphal A/C, 48 quintals for Konthoujam A/C, 25 quintals for Thangmeiband AC and 37 quintals for Uripok AC.