SHILLONG, July 2 – Meghalaya has sought an additional 5,500 metric tonnes of foodgrain from the Centre to meet the food shortage in the State, especially in Garo Hills districts.
Food and Civil Supply Minister Augustine D Marak admitted of acute shortage of foodgrain in the State and added: “We have sought an additional 5,500 MT of rice and wheat from the Centre”.
The Garo Hills, he added, is facing acute food shortage this year due to failure of Rabi crops due to flood.
The Minister warned hoarders and black marketeers of strong penal action for creating an artificial shortage in the State. “Stern action would be taken against those who indulge in illegal activities,” the Minister said. He said his department would have a three-tier committee for monitoring price rise in the State.
“We have a shortage of manpower in the department and therefore we are having difficulty in controlling price rice,” he added. He further urged the public to file complaint against black marketeers and hoarders.
Meghalaya has been allocated 10,843 tonnes of rice and 1,430 tonnes of wheat by the Department Food and Civil Supplies under Targeted Public Distribution System for April 2010 to March 2011. The State has to lift the food grains within 50 days of every month and furnish the mandatory utilisation certificate.
There have been allegations of pilferage of wheat in the State. Most of the fair price shops don’t supply wheat to the public under the TPDS system. The Minister said the government was in the process of computerising the TPDS system for transparency and accountability.
source:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0310/oth05
Food and Civil Supply Minister Augustine D Marak admitted of acute shortage of foodgrain in the State and added: “We have sought an additional 5,500 MT of rice and wheat from the Centre”.
The Garo Hills, he added, is facing acute food shortage this year due to failure of Rabi crops due to flood.
The Minister warned hoarders and black marketeers of strong penal action for creating an artificial shortage in the State. “Stern action would be taken against those who indulge in illegal activities,” the Minister said. He said his department would have a three-tier committee for monitoring price rise in the State.
“We have a shortage of manpower in the department and therefore we are having difficulty in controlling price rice,” he added. He further urged the public to file complaint against black marketeers and hoarders.
Meghalaya has been allocated 10,843 tonnes of rice and 1,430 tonnes of wheat by the Department Food and Civil Supplies under Targeted Public Distribution System for April 2010 to March 2011. The State has to lift the food grains within 50 days of every month and furnish the mandatory utilisation certificate.
There have been allegations of pilferage of wheat in the State. Most of the fair price shops don’t supply wheat to the public under the TPDS system. The Minister said the government was in the process of computerising the TPDS system for transparency and accountability.
source:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jul0310/oth05
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