COVID-19 lockdown: FCI moved 158 train loads carrying about 4,42,000 MT food grains to North-Eastern states

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) moved 158 train loads carrying about 4,42,000 Metric Tonnes food grains during the 25 days of countrywide lockdown to North-Eastern states at double its normal average of about 80 train loads per month.

The 4,42,000 Metric Tonnes food grains included 22,000 MT wheat and 4,20,000 MT rice, read a statement from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

"Ever since the announcement of countrywide lockdown on March 24, one of the focus areas of operations for FCI has been North-Eastern states. Due to its difficult terrain and limited rail access, it poses unique challenges from the logistics perspective. It has been the consistent endeavour of FCI to ensure uninterrupted supply of rice and wheat to North-Eastern states considering the high dependence on Public Distribution System (PDS) in the region," the statement read.

It added that the North East has "very unique logistical challenges as not all areas are having rail access."

Out of total 86 depots operated by FCI in seven North-Eastern states, only 38 are fed through rail movement.

"Meghalaya is entirely road fed and only two depots out of 13 in Arunachal are rail fed. Mpur is supported by road movement from Dimapur rail head in Nagaland. Hence rail movement to states has to be supplemented by large scale road movement to ensure that food grain reaches every part of North Eastern India," the statement said.

"Truck movement is carried out primarily from Assam. During 25 days of lockdown, a quantity about 33,000 MT food grains was transported to Meghalaya from Assam by road which is almost 2.5 times the normal monthly average of 14,000 MT. Similarly a quantity of about 11,000 MT was moved to Arunachal Pradesh by road at almost double the normal monthly average of 7,000 MT. A quantity of about 14,000 MT was moved from Dimapur (Nagaland) to Mpur by road, in addition to moving 8,000 MT stocks within Mpur to various depots from Jiribam Railhead. These truck movements were undertaken in extremely challenging conditions," the statement added.

It further stated that owing to the difficult terrain of the area, most of the warehouses are of small sizes except for few depots in Assam. "Due to this, regular movement becomes essential to maintain continuous supply for PDS operations. In addition to the challenges regularly faced in truck movement to various states of NE, FCI had to grapple with the restrictions imposed in state borders and various routes due to countrywide lockdown," it stated.

In addition to stocks under NFSA allocation and PMGKAY, states have been provided with additional rice and wheat directly from FCI at Open Market Sale rates for meeting the requirements of people not covered under government schemes and migrant labourers, the statement read.

Already Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Mpur have started lifting stocks under this scheme.

( With inputs from ANI )