BHUBANESWAR, NOV 28: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Shanta Kumar on Saturday announced an additional supply of 96,000 metric tonnes of rice to Orissa following request from the State Government.Kumar who was on a two-day visit to the State to assess the foodgrains situation told newsmen that the supply of additional quota is over and above the 2.20 lakh mt already allocated to the State for distribution in the cyclone affected areas and the regular monthly quota of 46,000 mt of rice and 25,000 mt of wheat.He said the Centre has provided foodgrains subsidy of Rs 290 crore to the State to help the cyclone affected people. Earlier, the State Government had sought food assistance for 21 lakh affected families to the Prime Minister A B Vajpayee during his visit to the state. Accordingly, the Centre had allocated 2.20 mt of rice and 50,000 mt of wheat for distribution for five moths till March end.Kumar who reviewed the situation with the Chief Minister Giridhar Gamang and othersenior officials here on Saturday said that the State sought for food assistance for another 10 lakh affected families. He said the Centre would provide an additional 96,000 mt of rice which would be lifted by March 31.He said all the affected families would supplied 20 kg of rice per family every month at Rs 3.50 a kg. Wheat would be made available at Rs 2.50 a kg. He said the Centre has sufficient stock of foodgrains and more would be provided if necessary. Besides, it has also allocated 2000 mt of rice to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for running mass kitchens.Public sector undertakings (PSUs) which have adopted several cyclone affected block for relief operations have been permitted to take rice from FCI godowns.Stating that the State Government has requested to extent the deadline of supply till the next Rabi crop, the Union Minister said he would take up the matter with the Prime Minister.He said several complaints of improper distribution have come to notice. He suggested the StateGovernment for direct lifting of quota to ensure prompt delivery at PDS outlets. He expressed his reservation about the involvement of some private agencies in the transportation of foodgrains from FCI depots which needs improvement.He said on the request of the State Government he has directed the FCI to handle the sugar supply in view of the calamity situation.
