The war of words between the Centre and the West Bengal Government continues with the State Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Jyoti Priya Mallick refuting allegations raised by his counterpart at the Centre, Mr K. V. Thomas.

In a letter to the Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Mr Thomas on Friday , Mr Mallick claimed that nearly 50 per cent of the stock released to the State through the decentralised procured scheme (DCP) and other central allocations (MAPL) has been utilised.

The onus for the supposed slow off-take from Food Corporation of Indian (FCI) has been put on poor quality of rice (C category) rice brought from Chhattisgarh.

“Consumers strongly objected to the said quality of rice. Moreover, the quality of wheat delivered from FCI was also highly objectionable,” the letter (no. 926/ MIC/FS) states.

The verbal duel was perpetuated after Mr Thomas on July 10 said that the State Government had utilised just 12.7 per cent of the 2.6 lakh tonnes of special allotment of food grains allotted to the 10 poorer districts of the State.

According to Mr Mallick, “to consume the additional stock of food grains, the process of identification of MAPL is continuing, lifting and distribution are also going on in full swing.” The figure will be reflected slowly as unlike other states West Bengal lifts and distributes food grains on a weekly basis.

“You are assured that the entire ad hoc allocations made for the 10 poorest districts would be lifted within the valid periods. In this connection, it deserves mention that the status of lifting against normal allocation in out state is always more than 95 per cent,” Mr Mallick maintained in his letter.

> abhishek.l@thehindu.co.in

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