It is shocking to note that in several fair price shops in the State massive quantities of sub-standard rice infested with maggots and fungus was reportedly found. It is learnt that in April too, the Civil Supplies Department supplied rice infested with maggots, mites and fungus from the godown at Cortalim. Shockingly the complaints from the fair price shop owners of Salcete were reportedly ignored as the supply of sub-standard rice continued even this month. It is pertinent to note it is the poor people who depend on the rice distributed by the public distribution system. The authority concerned needs to carry out regular checks of the food stock at the godowns meant to be supplied to fair price shops. Food stock which has been lying in the godowns for a long period of time tends to get infested by maggots, mites and fungus due to poor storage conditions. It would be in the fitness of things for rice and other food items stocked in the godowns to have a ‘Best Before’ date.
