Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (GA)
Pics - Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Dec 12: The Lakshadweep Cooperative Marketing Federation has rejected 300 tons of rice it procured from its city branch and sent the same back to city.

Rice worth Rs 3 crore and weighing 300 tons was sent to Lakshadweep from Food Federation of India (FCI) godown through ship some five days ago.  But when they started unloading the rice from the ship, the people present there said that the rice was smelling and hence cannot be used.  Immediately the officials arrived on the spot and made arrangements to send the rice bags back to city.

A panel of 3 persons too was formed to investigate the entire matter.  Panel consisting Lakshadweep Marketing Federation advisor UCK Tanhal, administrative director V V Abdul Rashid and cooperative registrar Ali Manikfaan have come to the city on the same ship.  They checked the rice stored in FCI godown here and reported that the rice had no problem.

But later it was known that the rice bags had problem as they were not clean.  This had resulted in the smell.  Lakshadweep is supplied with rice for entire year from the city.  Since there are no adequate facilities to check the quality of the rice in Lakshadweep, they union territory has to depend on the city.