Depots holders in Karnal send back damaged wheat

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, August 17

Several depot holders in the district received rotten wheat under the public distribution system (PDS). However, some of them sent the stock back. A depot holder said that rotten wheat was supplied to his depot, but he had rejected the supply. “I was compelled by one of the officials to take the stock or face consequences, but I bluntly refused to take the stock,” he said.

He said that the official could harass him in future, but he could not comprise with the health of beneficiaries. Another depot holder said, “I was asked to take the stock, but I had requested the official concerned not to send this stock to my depot.”

Sources said the supply of rotten wheat was sent to almost every block, but maximum was sent to Indri and Nilokheri blocks.

Admitting the supply of damaged wheat to some of the depots in the district, Karan Dev Kamboj, Minister of State for Food and Supplies, blamed HAFED for the supply. He said, “Rotten stock was sent to some depots, but after the issue came to my notice, I recalled the whole stock.”

Kamboj said directions had been issued to all agencies not to supply rotten stock to the PDS and action would be initiated if anyone was found violating the directions.

HAFED Chairman Harvinder Kalyan said that the issue came to his notice now only and he would get it checked. “No one would be allowed to play with the lives of the people,” he added.Kushal Bura, DFSC, said that the wheat was supplied from different godowns through the FCI to the depots. “Sometime the wheat which is kept at the bottom gets damaged and it could have been supplied,” he added.