Rotten rice being distributed in Pithoragarh villages, Inquiry ordered
Rotten rice being distributed in Pithoragarh villages, Inquiry ordered
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Jan 10
Rotten rice, issued to fair price shops, under public distribution system from Regional Food Controller (RFC) godown in Pithoragarh will be called back and action will be taken against concerned supply inspector, who approved issuing the rotten rice to these fair price shops, Pithoragarh District Magistrate Ashish Bhatgai informed.
“The steps are being taken after receiving complaint from PDS distributors from the villages of Dhari, Dungri and Pabhen villagers that rotten rice is being issued by PDS shop owners in their respective villages,” said the DM
“When we reached to take PDS ration for the month of January 2026, we found thousands of live bugs coming out of the rice bags and spreading around the PDS shop. How can anyone eat such ration and we complained to the District Magistrate regarding the matter,” said Susheel Pandey, a ration dealer from Pabhen village
The bags, containing ration had the year 2023 packing and the ration was being distributed after 4 years. “In normal conditions, the rice starts rotting in 4 months time, how they could have dared to distribute it after 4 years, “asked Pandey surprisingly.
“We have also ordered to investigate into the matter of issuing rotten rice without checking it thoroughly,” said the DM
There are over 600 PDS shops in the district, out of which over 150 shops remain dependent on Pithoragarh godown of RFC, for PDS ration supply.
“The dealers, had gone under strike from August till October 2025, demanding their salary, transport dues and against end of commission system with concerned officials, as other godown dealers issued the ration even during the strike period but officials of Pithoragarh FCI godown did not distribute the ration resulting into it getting rotten,” said a ration dealer on the condition of anonymity.
