The Hindu : National : Notice on plea against wheat import

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 05, 2006

National

National

Notice on plea against wheat import

Legal Correspondent

Decision benefits only MNCs and private traders: Vandana Shiva

Port panel confirms pesticides in first consignment Why import when rabi harvest is under way? Consequences disastrous for food policy

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Union Agriculture Ministry on a petition challenging the Centre's decision to import at "an exorbitant cost" 57 lakh tonnes of "sub-standard, disease- stricken and contaminated wheat unfit for human consumption." On a petition by environmental activist Vandana Shiva, a Bench consisting of Justices K.G. Balakrishnan and D.K. Jain asked Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam to file the Centre's response in three weeks.

Pinky Anand, counsel for the petitioner, said the Chennai Port committee, in its report, confirmed that the first consignment of five lakh tonnes contained pesticides which if consumed could cause serious diseases and fungal infections. The Australian wheat contained 500 per cent more pesticides than what was permitted and still the Food Corporation of India accepted the consignment, endangering public health.

On the one hand, the Government was importing wheat and, on the other, private traders and multinationals were being permitted to procure it directly from farmers for export, the petitioner said. The decision benefited only the MNCs, private traders and some countries to the detriment of Indian farmers.

Poor quality, high price

The United Progressive Alliance Government took a decision to import 57 lakh tonnes of wheat at a time when the rabi crop was being harvested and domestic production of the cereals was expected to be 730.60 lakh tonnes against the total domestic wheat consumption of 716.10 lakh tonnes. Wheat was available in India at Rs 700 a quintal while inferior quality produce containing pesticides and chemicals was being imported at Rs 1,000.

The petitioner said the import had disastrous consequences for the Indian food policy — increase in wheat prices, hoarding by traders and collapse of the public distribution system. The large-scale import when rabi harvest was under way on the alleged ground of low procurement and falling buffer stocks was contrary to the actual position.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National