Probe into alleged sale of subsidised rice in Meghalaya

GUWAHATI: The Goalpara district administration has started investigation into the allegations of transportation and sale of Assam government subsidised rice in Meghalaya.

The move comes in the wake of a report in a city-based vernacular newspaper alleging that rice provided at the rate of Re 1 per kg to beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, is collected through agents in the char areas of the western Assam district, re-packaged and thereafter supplied to the neighbouring state for a huge profit.

A magisterial probe has been ordered by Goalpara deputy commissioner, Varnali Deka to verify a report published in the newspaper claiming that unauthorised traders were transporting huge quantities of government subsidised “Parimal” rice to Meghalaya.

Saurav Kumar Das, executive magistrate, Goalpara, who is investigating the case, has been directed to submit the report to the deputy commissioner by Friday.

The media report alleged that the rice is collected from beneficiaries, cooperative agents and other brokers from Barpeta, Bongaigaon and Dhubri and thereafter transported to riverside godowns of Goalpara district through the Brahmaputra with the help of country boats.

Later the items are re-packaged and supplied to Meghalaya through trucks during the night for a whopping profit, the news report had alleged.

Sources say that there are a number of routes on the inter-state border through which such items can be sneaked into Garo Hills, particularly after dusk.