State loses Rs 1.6 crore in Hill Status Transport Subsidy (HSTS) subsidy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 27 2013: The State Government is unable to draw Rs 1,62,94,510 given as Hill Status Transport Subsidy (HSTS) for transportation of rice from the FCI Imphal godown to Principal Distribution Centres (PDS) located in hill districts of Manipur and recognised by the Government of India.

HSTS is a kind of subsidy given by FCI for transportation of rice to PDCs of hill districts recognised by the Government of India.

It is suspected that the State Government is unable to draw the HSTS amounting to around Rs 1.6 crore because of many wrongdoings committed in the past.

According to an official source, there are 10 PDCs in the State and they are located at Senapati district headquarters, Paomata, Tamenglong district headquarters, New Kaiphundai, Churachandpur, Parbung, Chandel district headquarters, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul district headquarters and Kamjong.

HSTS amounting to Rs 1,62,94,510 is the amount accumulated between 1996 and 2000 for transportation of rice by transporters selected by the Government of Manipur from FCI godown to the 10 PDCs.

Not garbage but rotting rice at the FCI godown of Imphal : File pic

However, the Government of Manipur applied for the HSTS for two separate periods.

The first one amounting to Rs 1.56 crore was for the period 1996-99 while the second amounting to Rs 6,95,518 was for the period 1997-2000 .

The first application of Rs 1.56 crore was submitted together with 97 bills while the second application was accompanied by nine bills.

For FCI authority, all formalities were completed before rice was transported by State Government selected transporters to the 10 PDCs.

But the State Government could not produce necessary documents when it claimed for HSTS.

According to guidelines, statements of receipt signed by store-keepers testifying arrival of rice at the PDCs, challan for lifting rice, documents for entry made at police check-points by the rice transporters should be submitted while claiming for HSTS.

As these documents were not complete when the State Government claimed the HSTS, the first claim for 1996 to 1999 was rejected by FCI.

Likewise, the second claim for 1997 to 2000 was returned to the State Government in May 2011 with instruction to re-submit the claim together with all the necessary documents.

However, the State Government is yet to re-submit the second claim.

The inability of the State Government to claim the HSTS amount has fuelled more suspicion about swindling a huge quantity of PDS rice without ever reaching the targeted sections of the population, added the source while speaking to The Sangai Express today.