PDS rice stock unfit for consumption

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 12. The Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, today reiterated her charge that the rice stock left behind by the DMK regime was `unfit for consumption'.

Owing to poor storage conditions, stock worth about Rs. 65 crores, lying in the godowns of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) in various towns, became `discoloured and infested with stored product pests'. As the stock could not be consumed, the Government had to abandon the entire stock, she told the media here.

The Chief Minister said the Government also ordered a DVAC probe into the working of the Civil Supplies Department with particular reference to the public distribution system. A White Paper on the department and the PDS would be presented to the Assembly at its next session. Blaming the previous DMK regime for the heavy loss, the Chief Minister said it failed to adopt proper storage measures resulting in the stock getting spoilt. As consumption of the stock would lead to diseases, she ordered its withdrawal from the PDS.

Earlier, the Chief Minister held a review meeting with officials of the Cooperation, Food and Civil Supplies Department. She instructed the officials that care be taken in maintaining the quality of rice supplied through the PDS. Wherever fair price shops had stocks of poor quality rice, they should be replaced immediately.

The Chief Minister's focus on the quality of the PDS rice came in the wake of trading of charges between her and the former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi.

According to official sources, the Government has a rice stock of about 15 lakh tonnes worth Rs. 1000 crores. Normally a 10 per cent storage loss is permissible.

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Section  : Southern States
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