Centre's FCI godown project caught in a rut
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 29 2013:
So far there is nothing to indicate that the project of the Centre to open FCI godowns in all the districts of North East States, which do not have FCI godowns, has made any progress in Manipur.
According to an official source, Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution sanctioned Rs 550 crore for the said project during the 2009-2010 fiscal.
Although, construction of a 5000-metric tonne godown at Senapati has been completed and a 2500-metric tonne godown at Churachandpur is in progress, fate of Imphal East, Bishnupur, Chandel, Tamenglong, Jiribam and Thoubal is still unknown as the Government is yet to acquire land for the said purpose, the source added.
Under the project, godowns having capacities of 10,000 metric tonne, 5000 metric tonne, 2500 metric tonne, 5000 metric tonne, 10,000 metric tonne and 2500 metric tonne are to be constructed in Imphal East, Bishnupur, Chandel, Tamenglong, Jiribam and Thoubal respectively.
The required area of land for 10000 metric tonne, 5000 metric tonne and 2500 metric tonne godowns are 5.5 acres, 3 acres and 2 acres respectively.
The State currently has only three godowns - one at Sangaiprou which can store 13090 metric tonne of goods, a rented godown at Koirengei having storing capacity of 7000 metric tonne and a 5000 metric tonne capacity godown each at Jiribam and Ukhrul.
Saying that the existing godowns can store only 30,090 metric tonne of foodstuff, the source said that the total capacity of eight proposed godowns which are to be constructed by the Central Government is 42500 metric tonne.
When the project was announced, it was anticipated that the State would not face the problem of inadequacy of storehouses, however, the hope is remaining under cloud as the project has not seen any progress, the source added.
Meanwhile, according to a decision adopted by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs of the Central Government, the State Government would directly procure sugar from different mills instead of buying it from FCI from this month.
The source said that it is still hard to comment on whether the State Government would be able to maintain buffer stock of sugar amidst bad road condition and limited store capacity.