Imphal, April 27 2010: Despite the fact that Nagaland police have been providing security escort to all goods laden trucks bound for Imphal till Mao Gate with the State police taking over form there, the Food Corporation of India, Dimapur, under the pretext of the ongoing economic blockade on NH-39 has diverted 22,000 quintals of sugar to Tinsukia, Assam.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express an official source from the Consumers Affair, Food and Public Distribution said that the State's share of 22,000 quintal of sugar stocked at the FCI godown in Dimapur was diverted to Tinsukia on April 20.It takes about 220 trucks to ferry 22,000 quintals of sugar.

The IG (Armed Police and Operations) of Manipur had earlier intimated to the FCI Department that security escorts are provided three days in a week to goods laden trucks.

Nagaland police escort the vehicles from Khatkhatti till Mao Gate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with the State police taking over the security aspects from there, said the source further.

The report of diverting the State's share of sugar to Tinsukia was conveyed to the State Government by the General Manager of FCI (Nagaland and Manipur), MK Gogoi.

The General Manager contended that no official report was sent to his office that the Government of Manipur would provide adequate security to escort the goods laden vehicles and hence it was diverted to Tinsukia.

Taking a serious view of the matter, the FCS Minister of Manipur, Y Erabot has written to the Union Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Sharad Pawar about the diversion of the State's share of sugar to Tinsukia, said the source.

Pointing out that Manipur perennially facers shortage of sugar due to the inaction of the FCI, Erabot informed Pawar that it is the duty of the FCI to transport all PDS items to the FCS godown of the State at Sangaiprou.

Commissioner of the State Consumers Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, P Vaiphei has also written to the General Manager of the FCI, Dimapur, yesterday.

In the message, Vaiphei made it clear that the State's share belongs to Manipur and it should not be diverted to any other place, said the source.

The Commissioner also made it clear that the State Government has taken a serious view of the matter while urging the FCI authority to faithfully deliver the State's quota to the FCS godown here.

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