Damaged wheat: ACS seeks report, hints at vigilance probe

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, December 12

Ram Niwas, Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, has sought a report from officials concerned with regard to damage to around 4,100 quintals of wheat in an open godown of the department at Jundla village here. He even hinted at a vigilance inquiry into the case to ascertain negligence on the part of officials or employees.

“It is a serious issue and to know about the facts, I have sought a report from officials concerned. A vigilance inquiry could be marked to fix the responsibility for losses,” said Ram Niwas while talking with The Tribune over telephone. He added that nobody would be spared, if found guilty.

Meanwhile, Karan Dev Kamboj, Minister of State for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, also hinted at an inquiry into the issue. He said that he would discuss the issue with officials and action would be initiated against those found guilty.

The minister claimed that no grain stock was damaged during the BJP government rule. It was damaged wheat of 2010-11.

Asked about unavailability of records of wheat with the departments, including the Food Supplies and the Food Corporation of India (FCI), he said, “I will consider all facts and take action against those responsible for the loss,” he added.

However, the mystery still surrounds the damaged wheat in the Jundla godown. The FCI authorities have even refused to categorise wheat that is not of the central pool. The FCI has also made it clear that the then DFSC had shown nil stock at the Jundla godown in 2010-11. According to sources, the department has suffered a loss of around Rs 70 lakh. The department records show that the stock stored in the Jundla godown during 2010-11 had already been distributed, while the present damaged stock was declared as damaged in 2014. But it is still not known where this wheat came from and when it was stored at Jundla.