CTS to solve goods transport problem: FCI Executive Director

Itanagar, May 18 (UNI) The Conveyor Trolley System (CTS) can solve the problem of transporting goods in remote areas of Arunachal Pradesh, according to Food Corporation of India (FCI) Executive Director (Finance) J.Srivastava.

Mr Srivastava, who arrived here on May 15 with an official team, to study the functioning of the Public Distribution System (PDS) and possibility of opening six base depots of the FCI in this land-locked state.

He informed in a meeting yesterday that Gujrat based Ambuja Cements Ltd uses a 72-km-long CTS to ferry its raw materials and finished products.

The government should implement the system in the state as the presence of hilly terrains and difficult topography makes it difficult for the essential commodities to reach the tribal people living in isolated areas, Mr Srivastava told UNI here yesterday.

He further expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that elephants in Lohit district and horses in Mukto and Mago areas of Twang district were used to carry men and materials.

The head load system introduced few years ago in many parts of the state did not solve the problem as it caused suffering to the human carriers, he said adding that chain-pulleys to transport rice bags across a river or from one hillock to another should be used instead.

The CTS, used to transport all heavy machineries for the hydropower projects in Himachal Pradesh, could be a panacea for this Himalayan state.

The team, accompanied by the Finance, Tax and Excise minister alongwith the parliamentary secretary, Tourism and Planning conducted an aerial survey over Pakke-Kessang, Khenewa, Chayang-Tajo, Bameng and Palin, to study the regions topography.

UNI