Deadline for STC wheat import extended

The government on Wednesday extended State Trading Corporation's deadline for taking delivery of duty-free wheat imports to April 30, according a notification issued by Directorate General of Foreign Trade.

The deadline was earlier valid till February 28. The extension comes as wheat imports of Russian origin had failed quality tests at the Chennai port in September following which the state-run trading house had sought permission to seek deliveries beyond the stipulated deadline.

After a gap of six years, in 2006, India had to resort to imports of 5.5 million tonne of wheat from various countries. in wake of fall in the country's output.

Of the total contracted imports, around 5.4 million tonne has already reached the shores.