Rice transportation from Myanmar to begin on Dec 5
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 08 2014 : Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister, Moirangthem Okendro personally inspected the existing foodgrain storage in Moreh town on Friday to make them ready for the incoming quantity of rice to be ferried from Myanmar.

Minister was accompanied by officials of the Department.

The move came as ferrying of rice from Myanmar to Manipur will commence on December 5, as per the agreement between India and neighbouring Myanmar.

10,000 MT of rice will be transported from Myanmar in a month and the transportation will initially be done for 5 months.

In order to maintain safety of the rice being stored at the Godown, the Minister directed the officials to make improvements of the godown by constructing security barracks, staff rooms, approach Roads, boundary fencing etc.

Located opposite Moreh College beside the National Highway, the Godown which can accommodate 500 MT of rice has not been utilised since construction.

The Godown has a land area of 1.8 Acres.

During the inspection visit accompanied by Tengnoupal MLA D Korungthang, the ministerial team spotted a few encroachers inside the compound of the godown.

The minister urged for their relocation to a suitable site.

According to agrerement between the two countries, vehicles from Myanmar have to transport rice upto Moreh, and subsequently vehicles of the state have to ferry the foodgrain upto Imphal.

Food Corporation of India has to handle the transportation from Moreh, and the Godown in Moreh is to act as a transit storage in between.

Minister Okendro said the rice from Myanmar would be of good quality.

With the launch of 'Mega Rail Block', the Northeast Frontier Railway is working to change the Lumding-Badarpur Railway line from Broad Metre guage into Broad guage since October 1 last.

Since then, ferrying of rice from Jiribam to Imphal has been halted.

Hence, the plan for transport of required quantity of rice from Myanmar was chalked out.

During the visit, the Minister inspected the condition of Weigh Bridge at Land Customs Station, Moreh and directed concerned officials to operationalise the Weigh Bridge as soon as possible.

The Weigh Bridge of 40 MT capacity installed with MANIDCO as implementing Agency has to measure the weights of loaded vehicles.

It was constructed during the period of N Mangi Singh as Commerce & Industries Minister in 2006 .

The visiting team included Y.Thamkishore Commissioner, CAF & PD; Mutum Yaiskul Meitei Director CAF & PD; Robert Singh Kshetrimayum ADC Moreh; FCI, Imphal Regional Centre Deputy Regional Manager Ksh Thoiba Singh; Ranjan Yumnam Joint Director CAF & PD and other officials.

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