ES Reporter

ITANAGAR, Dec 2: Arunachal Pradesh PDS Carriage Contractor Association (APPDSCCA) has threatened to boycott the fifth phase of lifting and transportation of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojna (PMGKAY) free rice distribution in the state from December to March, 2022 next.
The decision came following the alleged failure of the state government to pay 15 months carriage charge to the contractors and non-payment of lifting and transportation bills under NFS Act 2013 for the last two years.
Speaking to reporters at the press club today, APPDSCCA President, Sangha Tajik Masang on Thursday said that the state government is yet to clear the bill of Rupees 15 Core (approximate) for first to fourth phase of free rice distribution. Likewise, for almost two years the contractors have been deprived of full payment of lifting and transportation.
He said the much delay in payment of bills has been hampering the contractors in paying monthly wage of truck drivers, maintenance of trucks and meeting up the high price of petrol and diesel etc.
“We appeal to the state government to also enhance the land route transportation charge looking into the present road condition of respective districts. If not, at least follow the guidelines of the NFS Act and accordingly pay the bills in time,” he said.
Masang also informed that there is non- payment of Rupees Eighty Lakhs by the state government which was provided from the government of India in the month of April 2020 as advance payment under the scheme during Covid-19 pandemic.
While refuting the allegations of respective District Deputy Commissioners and officials of District Food Supplies and Consumer (DFSC) over contractors' poor lifting of free rice, Masang said the contractors have been performing their respective duty profoundly.
“Moreover the DCs and DFSC should understand the condition of the contractors at what cost and hardship the lifting and transportation is being executed,” he said, adding that the allegation over selling free rice by the contractors in markets is also false.
If the government of the officials has any doubt over it, they should constitute a committee to check the matter and also the problems of the contractor and workers, he added.
The association has also appealed to the state government to change the new tender norms in the greater interest of contractors. It suggested providing the transportation rate according to per kilometer travel.
Further, the association threatened to boycott the entire PDS distribution in the state, if necessary and if the appeal was not heard.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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