Government team pegs wheat damage at 3 FCI depots at 350 tonnes

A government team that inspected the gowns of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at three places in the north have reported damage of around 350 tonnes of wheat due to seepage at the godowns.

The ministry of consumer affairs and food and public distribution ordered an inspection of storage conditions at Hapur, Orai and Harduaganj depots of the FCI following media reports of large-scale damage to wheat stocks at the FCI godowns.

The inspection team consisting of senior officials of the department of food and public distribution, which inspected the three depots from 14 to 17 July 2010, have submitted its report to the government.

The team has observed spoilage of wheat stocks at these depots and serious dereliction of duty by concerned FCI officials.

The team assessed the quantity of grain grain damaged at over 300 tonnes at Harduaganj, around 30 tones at Hapur, and around 15 tonnes at Orai, costing nearly Rs50 lakh.

The government has instructed FCI chairman to take immediate penal action against the concerned officers as well as take corrective measures for improving storage conditions at these three depots and also at other FCI depots throughout the country, the release said.

Government has also directed that action be taken against those FCI officials who had willfully submitted a wrong report regarding damage to the wheat stocks at Orai and Harduaganj depots.

FCI, meanwhile, has suspended the area manager, depot manager and the manager (QC) of these depots and also sought an explanation from ED (North) and GM (UP) in this regard. Instructions have been issued to all general managers to do spot inspection of wheat and rice stocks in their jurisdiction.