No FCI counter at Narela mandi to buy foodgrains at MSP, says Rai

New Delhi: Agriculture minister for the capital Gopal Rai on Friday visited the Narela Mandi and said he couldn’t find a single counter of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for buying foodgrains at minimum support price (MSP). FCI countered that counters at its food storage depot (FSD) are just a few metres from the main gate of Narela Mandi.
Rai had alleged on Wednesday that FCI, a statutory body under Union ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, has not set up a single counter fto buy grains in the city and is making false claims of purchasing wheat at MSP rates from April 1.The claims were refuted by FCI.
On Friday, Rai inspected the mandi. “For the past few days, we’ve been getting several complaints from farmers that FCI has not been procuring foodgrains at MSP rates at Narela,” he said. “Yesterday (Thursday), when we asked for a report, we discovered that FCI did not even set up a counter. Yet, the body still claims it is making purchases,” he said.
“When I asked FCI officers the reason, they said that the farmers are yet to submit land revenue records,” he said. “If grains are being purchased in mandis all over India, then what is the issue in Delhi?”
In a statement, FCI reiterated that its purchase centres at Najafgarh, Narela and Mayapuri have been functional since April 1. It claimed that its Narela depot is adjacent to APMC Narela mandi.
The Union body further said it has procured 158 quintals of wheat at MSP from three farmers at FSD Narela on April 6 and released Rs 3.1 lakh directly into the bank accounts of farmers. It said there is no state government agency to monitor and speed up the procurement process and requested Delhi government to appoint one.
“A meeting was convened at the FCI regional office, with joint director (Agriculture). Due to non-implementation of online procurement portal, it was decided the procurement will be carried out on the basis of submission of physical documents,” the statement said.