538 bags of PDS rice seized
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 01 2009:
A total of 538 bags of PDS rice mean for onward distribution to the people below the poverty line for Chandel and Tengnoupal have been seized by the state Food and Consumers Affairs minister, Y Erabot today from a private godown allegedly diverted in collusion with officials of the Department.
With regard to the recovery of the rice, minister Erabot said that today at around noon a team of officials having close vigilant on selling rice to some individuals on getting specific detected a truck (MN01-4732) at Keishamthong Moirangningthou Leirak.
After the detection of the rice selling there, the officials came to know that some amounts of rice were also keeping at a private godown at Tera Lukram Leirak.
The officials along with the minister himself rushed to the spot and detected 240 bags of rice there from a godown owned by one Ningombam Rajen.
Later, the minister and officials came to know that the rice storing there were for distribution to the beneficiaries of the AtodhayaAwaj Yojana (AAY) and Below Poverty Line (BPL) for Chandel district and for the Arnapurna and mid-day meal for the Imphal east, west, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts.
The minister alleged direct involvement of DC Chandel in-charge, Lhunminthang Haokip, DC, director, social welfare, Th Harichan, ditrector Thoubal SWO amd Bishnupur district SWO Kh Ahanjao in the diversion of the rice.
They have taken the rice quota directly from the FCI authorities by-passing the state FCS authorities, he alleged.
Appropriate actions will be taken up against those responsible officers after conducting enquiry to the diversion of the rice, Erabot assured.