India resumes wheat import

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Chennai, Apr 26 (UNI) After a gap of seven to eight years, India resumed import of wheat, when the vessel 'M V Furness Australia', carrying over half a lakh tonne of wheat, arrived at the Chennai Port here last evening from Adelaide.

Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Regional Plant Quarantine officials were present when the vessel was berthed at West Quay-4.

Samples of the foodgrain were taken for tests.

The process of discharging the wheat commenced and was going on round the clock, Port sources said. FCI would distribute it to Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala under the PDS.

This is the first consignment of five lakh tonnes of wheat to be imported from Australia over the next couple of months.

Apart from Chennai Port, which would get a similar consignment next month, the cargo would also be shipped to the Tuticorin, Kochi, Vishakapatnam and New Mangalore ports.

Meanwhile, Chennai Port set a new record by handling 8,110 tonne of granite blocks on April 24 in 'M V Voyager V,' surpassing the record of 6,946 tonne handled the previous day in the same vessel.

Port officials said export of granite blocks through the Chennai Port had increased considerably this year.

This year, till Monday, 1,12,601 tonne of cargo was exported, compared to 63,025 tonne during the corresponding period last year.

The cargo comes from mines in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and the granite was being despatched to China.

UNI GV AA RP VC1647

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