Committee members express shock over quality of rice

Mysore, July 10 (UNI) The Members of Parlimentary Standing Committee on food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, who visited the Food Corporation of India (FCI) depot here to inspect the quality of food grains, today expressed shock on the quality of the food grain.

The MPs led by its chairman and Former Union Food Minister Dependraprasad Yadav were shocked when they saw huge stock of rice spoiled due to fungus and kept open in gunny bags.

Later, talking to newspersons, Mr Yadav said apart from the rice stocks, the wheat stocks were aslo found contaminated with rodent droppings.

He said the committee had collected samples for thorough investigation.

As per the norms, a five per cent variation in quality was permitted and if the quality was above the permissible limits, the stocks would be rejected, he added.

On the government importing more wheat, he said it was a government policy to maintain stocks especially during natural calamities.

He said a high-level meeting would be held in Bangalore tomorrow with secretaries and senior officials of the government to deliberate on the findings at FCI godown.

UNI