AGARTALA, Nov 9 � Tripura has been facing shortages in food supplies recently and is likely to fall in serious crisis by the next month if the supply of foodstuff mainly rice does not get increased substantially.
�The State Government had requested the Union Food Ministry and Food Corporation of India (FCI) to help in building up a food buffer stock for 90 days in the State. While the stock used to stand at 70-80 days during the last two years, it has gone down to the count of only 20 days owing to irregular supply of food stuff , leaving aside all extra demands�, Food Minister Manik Dey said here today.
Supply of food in the landlocked State has gone down drastically as a result and the existing stocks are all about to get depleted. Dhalai and North districts have been instructed by the Food and Public Distribution department to collect the allocated supplies by November 10 while the other two districts � West and South are supposed to have the supplies shortly.
Chief Secretary has had discussions with the Union Food Minister and Food Secretary recently to boost the food stuff supply, he said adding that the State had given advance payments to FCI for 46,051 MT rice while a huge amount is still pending.
�The crisis is entirely due to the Centre�s apathetic outlook towards the State and non-cooperative attitude of FCI�, said the Minister. The State has demanded an increase of rice carrying wagons to 44 and trucks to 19 immediately to beef up the food supply position, he said adding that the State has been sending SOS to the Centre since the beginning of last month to ensure proper food supply in the State.
