WGH DC orders probe into flood relief ‘anomalies’

SHILLONG: The West Garo Hills district administration has instituted a magisterial inquiry into allegations of inferior quality rice provided by some suppliers from the public distribution system (PDS) to flood victims in the plain belt of the district.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said the additional deputy commissioner, in charge of Dadenggre civil subdivision, Ramkumar S, would conduct the inquiry and that he has been asked to submit the report at the earliest.
Further, the additional DC has been asked to ensure that the inquiry must also contain recorded statements.
The inquiry was instituted following reports that in certain areas of Phulbari constituency, suppliers were playing truant by providing the cheaper PDS rice and other ration instead of the government recommended quality rice cleared for the same.
Villagers from Bholarbita East in Phulbari constituency who received the gratuitous relief last week alleged that the rice supply was from a PDS warehouse in Phulbari and its quality was inferior to the rice received by others at different relief camps across Rajabala and Selsella constituencies.