Inspectors and godown heads reassigned to clerical duties
Panaji: Toughening its stance against alleged distribution of contaminated foodgrains through fair price shops, the civil supplies department has suspended an appointed agency for failing to address foodgrain preservation requirements in the government godowns in Salcete and Mormugao talukas.
Moreover, civil supplies inspectors and in-charges of godowns have been reassigned to clerical duties over the bungling in the PDS foodgrain preservation.
The move comes after news reports highlighted the alleged supply of spoiled fortified rice to fair price shops in the talukas.
The department had admitted to complaints against spoiled foodgrains supplied to the shops and beneficiaries in both talukas and had issued memorandums to the inspectors-in-charge and in-charges of godowns, seeking explanations on the sorry affairs of foodgrain preservation.
However, the explanations received were deemed unsatisfactory, leading to disciplinary proceedings against the inspectors and in-charges of godowns under the CCS & CCA Rules, 1965. Consequently, they have been reassigned to clerical duties.
“We have suspended the agency for failing to maintain cleanliness at godowns and prevent pests from infesting the stocks and took disciplinary action against the inspectors,” said an official from the department.
The department has promised to take additional measures to improve storage practices and strengthen quality control to prevent such incidents from recurring.
Reports alleged that the civil supplies department supplied rice contaminated with maggots, mites, and fungus to ration card holders in the state.
Moreover there were rumours about the alleged distribution of plastic rice at some fair price shops. However, after a thorough investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, the government refuted the claims of plastic rice being supplied.
This is not the first time that the department has faced criticism over its handling of essential commodities.
In August last year, the department faced public ire when 241 tonnes of toor daal were discovered to be spoiled in warehouses. Fair price shop operators refused to lift the pulses, which resulted in the loss of approximately Rs 1.9 crore to the state. However, the department failed to mitigate the losses in a timely manner.
Pushing to address the issue, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant emphasised the need for periodic quality checks of foodgrains stored in godowns by civil supplies inspectors.
He stressed the importance of not solely relying on storekeepers but taking proactive measures to ensure the preservation and quality of essential provisions.