New Delhi: The Opposition has been crying hoarse over price rise issue and targeting the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government. But the aam aadmi (common man) is not only dealing with rising prices of food items but now foodgrains that could feed about 1.4 crore people in the country is at risk of rotting.
Reports say that almost 17.8 million tonnes of wheat and rice are stored under tarpaulins across India. Out of this about 10 million tonnes are at risk of rotting, which could end up costing the country around Rs 17,000 crore. In Punjab, 49,000 tonnes of the foodgrain is ready to be destroyed after being wasted through three monsoons. The amount of food grain wasted was 9.4 million tonnes in 2008, 16 million tonnes in 2009 and 17.8 million tonnes in 2010.
The Supreme Court, too, took notice of the rotting foodgrains and asked the Union Food Secretary to file an affidavit in two on whether the Government was doing anything to distribute the foodgrains to the needy.
The court also asked if any effort was being made by the Government to stop pilferage of foodgrains.
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