Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 23 2010:
Consequent upon the recent instruction of the Union Home Secretary GK Pillai to bring in atleast 100 truck load of rice to Manipur on a daily basis, authorities of the State transport Department have started to requisition trucks.
The rice lifting exercise is likely to begin at the earliest as report has been received that stock of the essential item at the Sangaiprou godowns of Food Corporation of India and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (CAF&PD) will only last for about 3/4 days.
An informed source said that on the advice of GK Pillai, who was in the State some days back to assess inadequacy of rice as well as overall prevailing situation, the Transport Dept has already requisitioned 60 trucks and have sent them to transport the staple food item of the people of Manipur.
The source informed that inspite of the Home Ministry's constant insistence that all relevant measures be taken up to ensure adequate stock of food items, absence of consensus with regard to transportation charge for lifting rice from the FCI godowns of Jiribam, Silchar and Dimapur is a major stumbling block.
Taking into account reluctance of transport operators to lift rice from the godowns located outside the State, the CAF&PD Department has reportedly prepared and forwarded the rate of transportation charge to FCI authorities.
On the other hand, it is said that the present stock at the Sangaiprou godown of FCI is 729 metric tonne rice with 3464 metric tonne stored at the CAF&PD godown.
Informing that FCI had ceased transportation of rice since October 13, the source also confided that under cover of security escort 77 rice-laden trucks have arrived at Imphal today on the Imphal-Dimapur road.
Moreover, 13 oil tankers and 10 bullet tankers (LPG carrier) are also among the vehicles that reached Imphal under security escort.