Centre releases Rs 25 crore for NFSA
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 29 2018: For the first time after the National Food Security Act (NFSA) has been implemented in the State, the Central Government has released Rs 25.43 crore, informed CAF&PD Minister Karam Shyam.

Speaking to media persons at his Secretariat office today, Karam Shyam said that the State Government was not receiving any assistance from the Centre even though NFSA was implemented in the State in April 2016 .

As such, transporters' bills and margin money of Fair Price Shop agents were not paid.

Informing that the amount of Rs 25.43 crore was released following concerted efforts of the State Government, Karam Shyam said that the Government would now have no difficulty in paying FPS agents' margin money and transporters' bills.

While most of the pending bills of transporters have been cleared, the Government has started paying margin money of FPS agents at the rate of Rs 65 per quintal from today through the DSOs and DCs concerned.

The CAF&PD Minister handed over two cheques of total amount Rs 2.37 crore to the Irnphal West DSO for the period April 2016 to September 2017.For the corresponding period of 18 months, Karam Shyam gave cheques of Rs 2.21 crore to DSO Thoubal, DSO Kangpokpi was also given a cheque of Rs 24.72 lakh for the period April 2016 to May 2017.Karam Shyam categorically stated that there should be no deduction when the DSOs/DCs concerned distribute the total amount of Rs 4.84 crore handed over today.

He assured that funds for other districts would be released as soon as the DSOs/ DCs concerned submit necessary documents.

Subsequent upon the Manipur Legislative Speaker's complaint about possible adulteration of diesel at PCTC oil pump, the State Government has asked IOC to enquire into the matter.

Whereas IOC has started investigating the matter, oil samples have been collected from tankers which brought fuel from Tinsukia terminal to Malom depot, from Malom depot to PCTC and also from the oil tanks of PCTC, Shyam said.

Preliminary investigation of samples collected in three tiers did not find any impurity or foreign particles.

Nonetheless, the samples would be further examined at the laboratory of Digboi Refinery, he continued.

The CAF&PD Minister also assured that befitting action would be taken based on the report sent from Digboi.

IOC Deputy General Manager SI Singh and CAF&PD Director Ranjan Yumnam were also present at the press meet.

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