Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: After a month when the news first broke out of the spoiled fortified rice supplied to Fair Price Shops in Salcete and Mormugao, the State Government has finally swung into action.
The Government has informed that it has taken cognizance of complaints of infested/spoiled Foodgrains supplied to Fair Price Shops/Beneficiaries, which occurred in Salcete and Mormugao Taluka.
“Memorandums were issued by Department Civil Supply and Consumers Affairs to the Inspector-in-Charges and Godown-in-charges of Salcete and Mormugao Taluka seeking their explanations and found that the explanations received were unsatisfactory,” said a press note by the Department of Information.
Based on the preliminary findings, it says, disciplinary proceedings under CCS & CCA Rules, 1965 have commenced against the Inspectors and Godown-in-Charges of Salcete & Mormugao Taluka.
“It is also decided to take action against the appointed Agency, who failed to address the preservation requirements in Salcete and Mormugao Taluka Godowns situated at Cortalim, Goa,” it said.
Reports alleged that the Civil Supplies department supplied rice infested with maggots, mites and fungus to ration card holders of the coastal state; there was a rumour that even plastic rice was supplied to some fair-price shops.
However, after checking the godowns by the Food and Drug Administration, Government refuted the allegation of plastic rice being supplied.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant also refuted allegations saying, “We have checked the rice. It is not made of plastic. It can’t be of plastic. Hence one who ‘speaks’ should speak responsibly, and those who ‘write’ should verify before writing. Because it creates confusion in the minds of people. In fact, it would be costlier to create plastic rice than to produce real rice.”
