Central instruction causes rice flood in 'tiny' FCI godown
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 02 2012: With the Central government giving instruction to stockpile rice in the state before the commencement of monsoon, the state government has started transporting huge quantity of rice leaving no space for storing at the modest FCI godown at Sangaiprou.

As a consequence, rice has literally flooded the godown as well the Imphal market.

On the other hand, rice laden trucks which are to be unloaded at the FCI Godown are causing serious traffic problem to the people in Sangaiprou and its surrounding areas.

Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao, Kshetrimayum Thoiba, Deputy General Manager of FCI, informed that the capacity of existing godown at Sangaiprou is only 13,090 metric tonnes.

With procurement of a large quantity of rice, the godown has already filled to capacity.

As a result, until the state government makes some other arrangements for storing the rice quota for the current month, there is no possibility of unloading the rice laden trucks waiting in queue.

That way, the present traffic problem could also be resolved.

Rice laden trucks waiting to be unloaded at FCI godown

The Deputy General Manager pointed out that the reason behind flooding of the FCI Godown and Imphal markets with rice is due to the strict instruction given by the Union government to procure and stockpile as much rice as possible before the onset of rainy season in view of frequent blockades and other disturbances along the National Highways.

He informed that strict actions would be taken up against any officials and security guards found engaging in unfair means at the time of unloading the rice.

Meanwhile, truck drivers, who have been waiting for their turn to unload the rice in long queue, too have started feeling the brunt of the situation.

Yashpal Singh, a truck driver told Hueiyen Lanpao that he has been waiting in the queue for the last ten days but he still does not have any knowledge when his truck would be able to unload the rice at the FCI godown.

Echoing the same sentiments, another driver informed that he has been staying in the queue for the last eight days.

However, some truck drivers who came days after him were seen driving inside the FCI godown and unloading the rice, he complained.

The aggrieved truck driver informed that since the trucks have been stationing besides the road for a long period of time, the truck owners have also suffered huge loss in their business.

There is no provision for the contractors to make up for the loss suffered by the truck drivers.

When contacted, President of Transport and Drivers Council, Manipur Ranjit maintained that to solve the problem faced at FCI godown, Sangaiprou, the state government should make arrangement for unloading of the rice at the FCI godown located at Koirengei.