IMPHAL, May 26: The stockpile of grain at godowns of Food Corporation of India in the state currently stand above their normal capacities and there is no real need to worry over failure of implementation of NFSA due to depleted stock, stated an official of FCI in clarification to allegations over disappearance of rice from its godowns.
The current stock position of grains at Food Store Depot at Sangaiprou is 16426 MT in total, out of which 12244 MT is rice and 4182 MT is wheat whereas the total capacity of the godown is only 13090 MT. At present, the capacity utilization percentage at the godown is 125.49%. The FSD at Koirengei has a capacity of 4000MT but the stock of rice is 4006 MT bringing the capacity utilization percentage to 100.15%. While Ukhrul FSD has 95.90% CUP, with wheat stock at 4795MT out of a capacity of 5000MT, FSD Jiribam has a CUP of 25%, the capacity being 5000MT and stock at present being 1279MT of rice. The FSD of Senapati has a capacity of 5000MT while present rice stock is 4560MT and its capacity utilization is 91.20%. The overall stock of FCI in the state at present is recorded at 31066 MT out of which the rice stock is 26,884MT and that of wheat is 4,182 MT.
In this connection, Imphal Circle Manager of FCI Ningthoujam Nandakishore said in an interview with some media persons that the FCI is monitoring the stock level of rice and wheat every moment so that there will be no problem when the NFSA is implemented in state providing rice at Rs 3per kg.
He further clarified that the news report published in local dailies alleging that a firm registered with FCI, MS Zenith Enterprises along with some FCI officials have misplaced the rice quota of March and April is baseless and very unfortunate.
He said that as per official records, all of its contractors have transported and deposited their allocation of rice for March at Koirengei godown and further deposit at Sangaiporou FDS is not possible as the godown is overstocked.
The present stock available at FCI godown will be enough to last 68 days and FCI stock in transit by road from Dimapur, Golghat and Salchapra is 32495 MT in total.
He said that in recent past there has been inconveniences to the contractors in unloading rice trucks because of lack of space in the godowns. Transporters have been demanding space but FCI has been unable to provide it, he maintained.
The main problem is due to FCS failure to clear its monthly allocation of 11796 MT for the state. FCI submits daily activity report to concerned union ministry. There is low chance of contractors of FCI intentionally misplacing consignment during transportation as the penalty for recovery is very stern, Nandakishore said. Moreover, why would a contractor take such a chance when the work deposit is in terms of crores of rupees and there is no holding charges for stranded trucks, he questioned.
Nandakumar said contrary to suggestion of low stock of grains at its godowns, the reality is that state office has even asked FCI Zonal Officer (NE) Guwahati to stop movement of supplies for the month of May 2016 because storage space at the depots have been utilized. More than 100 trucks are waiting for opportunity to unload at Sangaiporou and Koirengei depots, he asserted.
Meanwhile, the state government has not transported its allocation for the month of April and as per record about 665 MT of rice remains although the final grace period had lapsed on last May 22, 2016. For the month of May, the FCS has moved out only 374MT out of its total allocation of 11796 MT. The last date for claiming the allocation for May has been extended to May 31 after the state government requested for more time at the ministerial level.