Barely three Kms away from Daltonganj, two truck loads of rice for poor persons use is locked in a Government building for over two years on the premises of Chainpur block. These bags of rice just did not reach any PDS dealers.
Sushil Rai BDO Chainpur said, “I have been told by my block officials about rice for poor being locked in a government for over two years. I do not know as to how for these two long years none of my predecessors or marketing officers or Nazirs posted here made any attempt to get the bags of rice locked in a government building here.”
Sources said two truckloads of rice meant for ration card holders of Antodaya were stored and locked at the Government building and the rice remained locked for more than two years when BDO Chainpur Sushil Rai began process to free this rice from lock and key on Wednesday.
Rai said, “I have requested in writing Sadar SDO to depute a magistrate for breaking open the lock where the bags of rice are stored for over two years.” He further said an inventory would be prepared and then bags of rice would be taken out.
Sources said there is no count as to how many bags of rice are there. Public tongue wagging there only said two truckloads of rice for poor. DSO Palamu Albert Bilung did not know this till he was made aware of it. DSO said he would look into this.
Sources said it was a sheer coincidence that one CPI cadre Allauddin was there on block premise on Tuesday who broke this news of rice bags being locked for more than 2 years and this just reached BDO Chainpur who was then taking down directives from DDC Palamu Sushant Gaurav.
Sources said the DDC on hearing this complaint immediately asked BDO to act fast and Rai on Wednesday.
Sources hinted at rice going unfit for human consumption as the building where it was locked was dark. Sources said the gross negligence of the then marketing officer, Nazir, BDO for the pathetic management of rice is beyond any doubt.