Imphal, January 31 2009: Blaming Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the Department's inability to provide PDS rice to the people, FCS Minister Y Erabot has rubbished the allegation of MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing that the FCS Minister in connivance with some officials has swindled 6635 quintals of PDS rice meant for the people of Ukhrul district.

Even as more than Rs 8.10 crores have been deposited at FCI for the State's quota of rice for the months of November last year till January this year, the FCI has no been releasing rice to the State, disclosed Erabot while talking to reporters at his office chamber today.

For the months of November last year till January, the State should get 40116.113 quintals of APL rice, 63567.15356 quintals of BPL rice and 39535.23864 quintals of AAY rice.

For these, Rs 8,10,72,387.15 have been deposited at FCI.

But FCI has not been releasing any of these rice causing difficulties to the FCS Department in providing rice to the people.

The amount deposited at FCI was taken on loan from the Reserve Bank of India by the FCS Department.

As interest of the amount, the Department is paying Rs 28,319.80 daily to the RBI, the Minister disclosed.

In a letter sent to Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Sharad Pawar, FCS Minister Erabot mentioned that out of 23,979 metric tonnes of rice allotted to the State for the months of November till January, only 9458 metric tonnes have been lifted.

He also sough attention of the Union Minister so as to enable the State lift its rice quota in time and store the allotted quota for the three months in buffer stock at Imphal FCI godown.

Referring to the allegation of Wungnaoshang Keishing, Erabot maintained that there has been written complaint from any quarter about unavailability of the monthly quota of 4422.50 quintals of rice allotted to Ukhrul district.

Quoting reports furnished by the Ukhrul DC, 3476 quintals of BPL and AAY rice were distributed to the people in December.

In January, 4623 quintals of rice have been distributed to APL card holders.

In November last year, 1447.60 quintals of rice was lifted for Phungyar A/C.Quoting records, Erabot said that 472 quintals of rice was lifted by Wungnaoshang Keishing in the name of 11 persons during the current month.

To build up buffer stock (of rice) for natural calamity relief, APL rice would not be released for the months of February till April.

However, distribution of AAY and BPL rice will continue.

The FCS Minister also mentioned that free mobile sale of kerosene and sugar has been launched on trial basis.

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