Rice import from Myanmar begins this month: Y Erabot

Imphal, Sep 9 : Import of rice from Myanmar to meet the rice scarcity in the state will start from this current month, September, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution minister, Y Erabot who inspected progress of construction of a godown in Moreh said today.

The state government has received the nod from the Centre to import rice from the neighbouring country said the minister adding that however a clearance from the concerned section of the ministry is awaited.

Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Y Erabot who reached Moreh yesterday inspected godowns of food and civil supply department in the border town of Moreh through which the rice would be imported.

Principal secretary, O Nabakishore and commissioner of the consumer affairs and food and public distribution department P Vaiphei also accompanied the minister.

The godown under construction which will have a storage capacity of 500 metric tone of rice was the first to be inspected by the minister.

He expressed satisfaction in the progress of the construction work.

He also looked into the quality of the infrastructure developed inside the godown for storing goods.

Finding the approach road leading to the godown to be narrow, the minister instructed the officer concerned to broaden it by if necessary by evicting the encroachers on the roadsides.

The minister also inspected improvement works of the 4.58 km long road from the godown at Lalkai Veng to Myanmar border from where the rice is to be imported.

He inspected the bridges and culverts constructed on the stretch of the road.

He asked the authorities incharge of the developmental work to speed up the work so that it could be completed at the earliest.

Briefing media persons at the site, the minister revealed that the approach road was constructed considering the traffic congestions that could be caused while transferring the imported rice from Myanmar to the godown.

Erabot further clarified that the CAF&PD Department will bear only the responsibility of transportation and stock.

Other expenditures will not be born by his department.

Food Corporation of India (FCI) will be responsible for checking quality of the imported goods.

No tax will be imposed, he added.

The minister further informed that the trade items of free trade with Myanmar which was only 18 at the beginning has been increased to 40 after the coming up Look East Policy and government is considering to add more items.

The minister also inspected the site acquired for the construction of Integrated Check Post at Moreh.

Government had acquired 45 acres of land for the check post after paying compensation to the affected land owners amounting to Rs 31 crore.

The development of infrastructures will be start as soon as the fund is released by the Central government, the minister said.