FCS Minister points finger at UGs
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 09:
Reiterating that there are sufficient rice stock, FCS Minister Y Erabot has explained that the people are facing problem of non-availability of rice and price hike as a result of the threats issued to shops selling rice and cereal in Khwairamband Market and the false alarm created over the alleged imposition of restrictions on lifting the rice from the godown.
Talking to mediapersons at the Sangaiprou FCS godown today where he was supervising lifting of the rice quota of the Ministers, MLAs and PDS agents to ensure availability of the same to the people of their respective Assembly Constituencies, Erabot said he has been stationing at the godown to face those who are imposing restrictions on lifting the rice.
Talking about the stock position at the godown, the Minister said that at present there are 13,567,656 matric tonne of rice in the FCS godown at Sangaiprou, besides 426.626 matric tonne at FCI godown, 1480 matric tonne at FCI godown at Ukhrul and 1936 matric tonne at FCI godown at Jiribam.
The rate fixed by the Government is Rs 8.85 for APL rice Rs 6.11 for BPL rice and Rs 3.37 for AAY rice, the Minister added.
The Minister assured that to ensure proper distribution of rice among the people fair price shops would be opened in all the Assembly Constituencies in consultation with the respective local MLAs.
To start off, 1000 quintal of rice would be provided to each of these fair price shops.
Steps would also be taken up for opening fair price shops in some parts of Imphal area besides releasing rice through mobile sale.
The cost would be, however, slightly higher than the rate fixed by Government as it would include transportation charge, labour charge and the service charge of the individuals engaged for the purpose.
All these works would not be done by FCS Department, but voluntary organisations would be entrusted to do it, the Minister informed.
The Minister further disclosed that the Government of India had already sanctioned 8000 quintal of rice as relief for the people whose crops have been destroyed by rodents in the aftermath of bamboo flowering and the same is being distributed among the affected people at the rate of Rs 15.97 per kg.
The distribution of said rice is also not being done by the FCS Department, the Minister clarified.
The Minister also informed that necessary legal action would be taken up against all concerned for the false reports published in media in connivance with some FCS officials who could not ensure lifting of the allotted rice quota for the month of May.
Considering the problem of the people, transporters of the FCS would be send to Dimapur for lifting rice, he added.
Some of the FCS officials, however, asserted that apart from some remaining portion of May, monthly rice quota till June had already been lifted.