FCI rice transportation
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 20 2014 :
Even as there is irregularity in transportation of FCI rice to the State from FCI Godown at Dimapur since over the last three months, no action has been so far taken up against the concerned transport contractor by the officials of Food Corporation of India (FCI), Nagaland and Manipur Regional Office based at Dimapur.
Sources said that the transport contractor for shipping rice to the State (Sangaiprou FCI godown) from Dimapur is WI Enterprises.
It has also been learnt that since October 2013 transportation of rice to the State has been irregular.
Prior to October last year, 800-1000 trucks were transporting rice to the State from Dimapur on daily basis.
For over three months now the number of trucks transporting rice drop to an abysmal low�only 10-20 trucks have been transporting rice twice or thrice a month resulting in the running down of rice stock at Sangaiprou FCI godown.
It is pertinent to mention that two transport contractors were penalised by suspending their contracts in 2010 when shipping of rice from Dimapur godown was stopped due to public upheaval in connection with the proposed home visit of NSCN-IM leader, Th Muivah.
Following the suspension of the contract of the two transport contractors, process for awarding the contract was initiated then.
Ironically, no action has been taken up by the concerned officials even as there is irregularity in transportation of rice to the State for over three months now.
The sources further said that the FCI Area Manager of Imphal has written to the concerned authority umpteenth times to initiate action against the transport contractor.
Due to abnormality in transportation of rice to the State, the public is highly vulnerable to crisis/inconvenience.
Meanwhile, transshipment of rice from Jiribam FCI godown is going on regular basis.
However, the truckers take longer time to reach here due to bad road condition which resulted in running down of stock at the Godown here.
Besides, as transportation of rice from Jiri godown depends much on availability of security escorts, the same could not be taken out frequently.