GUWAHATI: Food Corporation of India (FCI) has moved 158 train loads carrying about 4,42,000 metric tonnes of foodgrains to the Northeast states during 25 days of the lockdown, at double its normal average of about 80 train loads per month.
The foodgrains moved to the region during the lockdown include 22,000 metric tonnes of wheat and 4, 20,000 metric tonnes of rice.
“However, Northeast faces unique logistical challenges as not all areas have rail access. Out of a total 86 depots operated by FCI in seven Northeastern states, only 38 are fed through rail movement. Meghalaya is entirely road fed and only two depots out of 13 in Arunachal are rail fed,” an official statement said.
Manipur is supported by road movement from Dimapur rail head in Nagaland.
“Hence rail movement to states has to be supplemented by large scale road movement to ensure that foodgrain reaches every part of Northeastern India,” the statement said.
Ever since the announcement of countrywide lockdown on March 24 last, the Northeast, given its difficult terrain and limited rail access, has been one of the focus areas of operations for FCI to ensure uninterrupted supply of rice and wheat to the region considering its dependence on public distribution system.
Truck movement is carried out primarily from Assam.
“During 25 days of the lockdown, a quantity about 33,000 MT food grains was transported to Meghalaya from Assam by road which is almost two and half times the normal monthly average of 14,000 MT. Similarly a quantity of about 11,000 MT was moved to Arunachal Pradesh by road at almost double the normal monthly average of 7,000 MT,” it said.
“A quantity of about 14,000 MT was moved from Dimapur (Nagaland) to Manipur by road, in addition to moving 8,000 MT stocks within Manipur to various depots from Jiribam railhead. These truck movements were undertaken in extremely challenging conditions,” it added.