The Hindu : Front Page : Alert against foodgrains diversion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 17, 2007
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Alert against foodgrains diversion

Gargi Parsai

NEW DELHI: The Union government has asked the West Bengal government to be alert against diversion of foodgrains meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS) reportedly to Bangladesh.

Answering questions on Tuesday on the reported “looting” of fair price shops in some pockets of the State, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told journalists: “There have been complaints about some diversion to Bangladesh, which requires the State government to be alert. I don’t know about political agenda but definitely there is anger about diversion [of foodgrains].” He was speaking on the sidelines of a World Food Day conference.

The Minister said a representative of the State met him three or four days ago and assured him that the State would step up vigil on the border and ensure that diversions were avoided.

Mr. Pawar said the Centre fulfilled “100 per cent” of the State’s requirement for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) population, including the Antyodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) beneficiaries. “For the Above Poverty Line (APL) population, we have taken into account the off-take of the last three years and allotted the same quantum completely [to the State].” Union Food Ministry sources told The Hindu that between April and September, the State was allotted 6.53 lakh tonnes of rice for the BPL population, including the AAY category, against which 5.33 lakh tonnes was lifted. The allocation of wheat for the BPL population, including the AAY category, was 4.34 lakh tonnes, against which the off-take was to the tune of 4.02 lakh tonnes.

For the APL population, during the same period, the allocation of rice was 46,200 tonnes, against which the off-take was 54,097 tonnes. Against 3.14 lakh tonnes of wheat allocated to the State for the APL population between April and September, 2.86 lakh tonnes was lifted. Against the market price of wheat averaging Rs. 12 a kg, the PDS price was Rs 6.10 for the APL population, Rs. 4.15 for the BPL and Rs. 2 for the AAY. The PDS rice was priced at Rs. 8.30 a kg for the APL population, Rs 5.65 for the BPL and Rs. 3 for the AAY category. The huge price difference was an incentive for diversion, the sources said.

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

Front Page