Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 11 2009:
Reacting to accusations levelled by the armed United people's Party of Kangleipak (UPPK) against the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Y Erabot and Commissioner (FCS) S Budhachandra, the Minister dismissed outfit's claim as wild allegation and unfounded.
With reference to the UPPK's allegations that the Minister and Commissioner were involved in swindling Rs 3 crore worth rice meant for supply to certain districts, Erabot said the insistence that the FCS Department is responsible for swindling of rice is ridiculous.
Elaborating on the contention, he informed that distribution of rice to the districts are the responsibility of the Deputy Commissioner concerned as FCS' role on the monthly rice quota provision is minimal.
Every month the DCs submit the requisite quota for the district concerned after which the deposited amount and other details are forwarded to the Food Corporation of India for the DCs to authorise collection of the particular district's provision, the Minister added.
Further asserting that neither the Department nor himself would cow down to pressure or had entertained monetary demands from underground organisations, Erabot dismissed as baseless the UPPK's contention of the Department committing fraud.
He also confided that to ensure sufficient availability of food stock to the people in the event of crisis striking the State buffer stock of essential commodities such as rice and sugar would be maintained from the current month.
Regarding complaints from certain quarters that the FCS had been failing to extend relief materials like rice during times of disaster, the Minister contended that the problem is the concern of the Home Department, which should provide security.