7200 quintals of sugar were distributed among 60 MLAs ?
PDS sugar allocation for July vaporizes into thin air
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 13 2014 : A strong suspicion has been raised whether the State's sugar allocation for the month of July has been embezzled by some elements.

Although sugar is one of the PDS items which should be made available to public at subsidized rate, the commodity is seldom distributed to public at the subsidized rate.

A well placed source in Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Department informed that 17630 quintals of sugar bought by the State Government from factory in the month of July have been gobbled up by some elements without distributing even a single grain of sugar to public.

Earlier, it was the FCI which ferried the State's monthly sugar allocation up to Imphal.

However, under a new policy of the Government of India, the State Government took up due measures to purchase sugar from factory directly at the rate of Rs 35 per Kg approximately.

The same item should be made available to public at the rate of Rs 13.50 per Kg.

The deficit incurred in buying sugar at Rs 35 per Kg and distributing the same to public at Rs 13.50 per Kg as well as the transportation charges should be borne by the Government of India.

An FCS godown where PDS items are distributed

The Government of India's new policy should be implemented with effect from May this year.

However, the PDS item of sugar cannot be made available to public at the subsidi- zed rate in the State since the month of May on account of the State's fund paucity and delay in selection of transport agencies.

After the transporters were recruited, the State Government ferried 17630 quintals of sugar in July.

As per the guidelines, sugar ferried by transport agencies should be distributed to public at subsidized rate through District Supply Officers and fair price shops.

Instead of complying with the guidelines, around 120 quintals were distributed to each MLA before any quantity of sugar could reach DSOs.

It is now clear that 7200 quintals of sugar were distributed to 60 MLAs, inform- ed the source.

As for the remaining quantity of sugar, no one is sure who have taken them and where.

With the Government of India's new policy put into effect since May whereas the State Government was able to implement the same policy only in July, the State's monthly allocations for May and June were wasted.

It is not clear whether the 17630 quintals of sugar ferried in July was the State's allocation for the same month or for the backlog months.

For the sugar bought from factory by the State Government, the Government of India would pay certain subsidy to the State Govern- ment.

But this would require submission of utilization certificates by Deputy Commissioners.

But many DCs are completely in the dark regarding the disappearance of the 17630 quintals of rice.

Monthly allocation of sugar for the month of August has been ferried but no one is sure wether it would be distributed to public or embezzled by some influential elements, added the official source.

Incidentally, CAF&PD Minister M Okendro stated on the floor of the House during the July session that sugar would be made available to public at Rs 20 per Kg as the State Government is not in a position to provide sugar at the rate fixed by the Government of India.

Market rate of sugar at Imphal varies between Rs 35 and Rs 38 per Kg.