Imphal, July 06 2010: Officials of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) led by its Executive Director, Dr Amar Singh accompanied by Union Joint Secretary (NE region) Navin Verma arrived in Imphal today and held meeting with the Chief Minister.

The meeting convened by the Chief Minister, O Ibobi at his office chamber discussed the possibility of lifting state quotas of rice through Jiribam.

Transport contractors of the FCI taking part in the meeting urged the authority to make arrangements for allowing lifting state quotas of rice, sugar and wheat from the FCI godowns at Jiribam, official source said.

Among other, the meeting was also attended by state transport minister, L Jayentakumar, commissioner of consumer affairs, food and civil supply, B Vaiphei and DGP Y Joykumar apart from officials of the nodal agency of FCI item transporters and enterprises, the source said.

The meeting importantly discussed the problems arising out of non-procurements of state quotas of rice, wheat and sugar by the transport contractors of the FCI.

The Chief Minister also asked the authorities of the FCI to make arrangements to ensure the items reached Imphal in time.

Chief Minister Ibobi asked the FCI offcials how they would ensure that the items reach Imphal timely.

The transport contractors insisted the FCI officials to make immediate arrangements for delivering the items upto Jiribam saying that they prefer lifting the same from Jiribam.

They also suggested that if the items are delivered upto Jiribam by rail, they can transport the items and deposit the same to Imphal godowns timely.

Transport contractors also aired their grievances in ferrying the items from Dimapur godowns on the NH-39 as there were many disturbances and bans while taking the route.

They also press the authority to review the restriction on ferrying goods more than nine tones on NH-59 .

After hearing appraisal of the transporters, FCI officials observed that as currently the repairing works of the railway line upto Jiribam is under progress, for the time being it will not be convenient for them to translate the demands into works, the source said.

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