Manipur to import 10K MT rice from Myanmar

IMPHAL,Oct 24 – The Food Corporation of India (FCI) is planning to import 10,000 MT of rice from Myanmar per month for a period of five months during the ‘mega block’ of the Indian Railway, says Deputy Regional Manager (Region) Ksh Thoiba Singh.

In a press conference held at his office at the Old Assembly Complex in Imphal, Thoiba Singh said that the import of rice from Myanmar will be undertaken through the State Trading Corporation of India Limited, New Delhi. This corporation has already floated the tender for transportation of rice to Manipur from Myanmar, but did not succeed as operators were not interested in transporting beyond the international border to Manipur.

“Now we will re-float the tender, which will be delivered the stock in the Indian side of the international border,” he added.

The total capacity of the five FCI godowns in the State is 42,090 MT, which can accommodate stocks for nearly two months.

The individual capacities of the five godowns are – 13,090 MT (Sangaiprou), 5,000 MT each in Senapati, Ukhrul and Jiribam, and 4,000 MT at Koirengei (hired from State). Godowns will also be opened in Churachanpur (2,500 MT), Thoubal (2,500 MT), Imphal East at Sawongbung (10,000 MT), Tamenglong (5,000 MT), Bishenpur (5,000MT), Chandel (2,500 MT) and at Imphal (10,000 MT) under the PEG Scheme.

After completing all these godowns, the total quantity of the stocks will be increased to nearly 70,000 MT and it can keep supply for three-four months. But most of the construction works have been stuck up due to land acquisition activities, he claimed.

In another development, necessary animal quarantine centres will be set up in Manipur’s border towns of Moreh in Chandel district, Kasom Khullen in Uklhrul and Behiang in Churachandpur – all located along the Indo-Myanmar border. The step has been taken to check and monitor the import of livestock from Myanmar, said Manipur’s Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Minister Govindas Konthoujam while addressing a free animal health campaign and rabbit distribution function at the State veterinary office complex in Imphal last afternoon. The Central government has also agreed to open the quarantine centres.