Tender being floated for import of rice from neighbouring Myanmar to Mizoram was extended for the second time till October nine, state Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Secretary R. Lalvena said today.
Lalvena told PTI that the department received information that the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution laid down additional condition for food safety, leading to extending the period for finalisation of the tender.
"In any case, we intended to lift the foodstuff from Myanmar only from the first week of November," he said, adding as of now, all the FCI godowns in the state were fully packed with rice stock.
He said that some firms have already responded to the tender floated on September 8 by the Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India Limited for import of one lakh quintal of rice from Myanmar following arrangements being made by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to import rice from neighbouring Myanmar.
Mizoram was planning to import rice from Myanmar to ensure non-stop supply of foodstuff during the mega block beginning from today due to widening of railroad between Lumding and Badarpur in Assam.
The rice would be imported via Zokhawthar in Champhai district in Mizoram-Myanmar border and would be distributed to Aizawl, Lunglei and Lawngtlai districts.
The godown of state Trade and Commerce department, having capacity of 8,000 quintals at Zokhawthar border trade centre on the banks of river Tiau in Mizoram-Myanmar border was being prepared for stocking the rice.
The mega block would have severe impact on the food supplies in Mizoram, Manipur, Tripura and southern parts of Assam as all the foodstuffs have to be lifted by trucks.
