FCI contests Bihar government claim, says no wheat shortage in 5 districts

PATNA: The Food Corporation of India ( FCI) today stated there was no supply crunch of wheat in five districts of Bihar as mentioned by the state government.

The state government had said that the shortage was posing problems in implementation of the Food Law.

Rebutting the charge made by the Bihar government regrading supply crunch of wheat in five districts, General Manager of FCI Amresh Kumar said in a statement here that against the monthly allotment of 1.65 lakh metric tonne wheat in Bihar, stock of 1.75 lakh metric tonne of wheat is available as of today.

"There is no shortage of wheat stock in Bihar region," he said.

Bihar Food minister Shyam Rajak had yesterday drew the attention of Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan regarding supply crunch of wheat in five districts, which was hampering implementation of the Food Law there and urged him to issue necessary directions to the FCI in this regard.

The five districts were Buxar, Bhojpur, Jamui, East Champaran and Sitamarhi.

Rajak had said for the month of May the grain has not been made available when the time for lifting of grain was to expire on April 30.

The FCI GM said validity period of lifting of foodgrain under the National Food Security Act for the month of May, 2015 has been extended upto May 15.

Kumar said sufficient wheat stock was available in depots of FCI at Jamui, Motihari and Sitamarhi at 2,107 metric tonnes, 5,400 metric tonnes and 4,495 metric tonnes respectively as on April 30.

The wheat allocated to Ara and Buxar districts could be lifted from Buxar depot.