VASCO
After a huge outcry over the bad quality rice available in many of the fair price shops (FPS) in Mormugao taluka, the Civil Supplies Department has taken preventive measures and fumigated the stock of rice at the Cortalim godowns.
Speaking to media, Mormugao Civil Supplies Inspector Sarita Moraskar said that there was around 300 tons of rice in the Cortalim civil supplies department.
“We have taken all preventive steps and fumigation has been carried out at our Cortalim godowns which are in a good condition. One stack of rice was fumigated on Friday and we kept the godown shut on Saturday and Sunday. The remaining stack was fumigated on Monday and we have closed our godowns again for two days, ie. on Tuesday and Wednesday. The entire process has been taken care of by the senior officials of the Civil Supplies Department, FCI, etc and the godowns have been kept shut for two days after every round of fumigation,” said Moraskar.
Moraskar said that they had received a circular and letter that bad quality rice be replaced immediately.
“We have had a meeting with all the FPS and personally visited their premises. We have requested them to keep all the bad quality rice aside but they have said that rice can be given on the POS till the 21st and they will start opening the sacks to give good rice to the people and keep aside any bad quality rice sacks that they may have received. We have also asked them to give us in writing about the number of bad quality rice sacks that they may have received and I have already got their reports,” said Moraskar.
“As of now, since we have recently fumigated our stocks of rice in our Cortalim godowns, we have to keep it shut and we will soon start the exchange formality after our godowns are opened. However every society has an opening balance of rice stock with them at the start of the month and hence even if the exchange process is delayed, the people and the beneficiaries will not be affected and they will get their quota of good quality rice from the FPS. None of the FPS have got zero balance stock of the rice and we have asked them to offer the people good quality rice,” said Moraskar.
