Centre not allocating rakes to transport rice: Gangula

Karimnagar: BC Welfare and Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar slammed the union government for not allocating rakes to transport rice from godowns.

Though the State government was ready to supply 10 lakh metric tons of rice per month, the Central government was not arranging transportation facilities, the Minister said, addressing a press conference here on Sunday.

Since all godowns in the State are packed with rice and under the control of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the State was facing severe storage space problem. “The government wrote letters to the Centre to clear the stocks from the FCI godowns but nothing has been done in this regard,” Kamalakar said.

Just 20 days before paddy procurement started in the state, the centre invited tenders under Government e-Marking Place to transport rice. However, nobody came forward due to tough norms. The government has again invited tenders, he pointed out.

When the Ministerial delegation from the State met with Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the latter said they do not have transportation facility since all rakes were diverted to transport fertilizer, he said, adding that the Central government admitted its failure to allocate transportation facilities.

Talking about the development of the Karimnagar town, the Minister informed that the prestigious cable bridge, which was taken up with Rs 183 crore, will be ready by next three years.

First of its kind in the country, a dynamic lighting system is going to be arranged to cable bridge with Rs 6 crore. The works of road from Kaman to cable bridge as well as central lighting system taken up with Rs 40 crore were under progress. Another Rs 7 crore was allocated for farmers’ service road and other works.

Laying of road from Karimnagar to Sircilla was on going on brisk note, he said and informed that construction of two bridges on Kakatiya canal were taken up with Rs 30 crore.

Informing that a total of Rs 350 crore worth works were taken up, he said Rs 100 crore worth works were already completed.

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