Will raise rice supply issue with HM Amit Shah, says CM Siddaramaiah
New Delhi/Bengaluru, June 21: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said he will flag the issue regarding the supply of rice to the state for its 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, which provides additional 5 kilograms of rice for each member of BPL families, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Speaking to reporters after meeting President Droupadi Murmu, he indicated that there may be slight delay in implementing the scheme, as the Centre played "dirty politics" in supplying rice to the state.
"After becoming the Chief Minister I had not met the Rashtrapati, I met her, it was only a courtesy call. I'm also meeting the Union Home Minister. He has given me time at 9 pm, it is also a courtesy call, there won't be any major discussion, may raise certain issues depending on the situation," Siddaramaiah told reporters in New Delhi.
Responding to a question, he said, he will raise the rice supply issue with Amit Shah.
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Charging that Food Corporation of India (FCI) expressed inability to supply rice to Karnataka allegedly on the instance of the central government, after initially agreeing, the CM in response to a question said, the government of India played a "dirty politics", "hate politics".
Noting that the state government is trying to procure rice and has reached out to various states like Telangana, West Bengal, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, he, however, said they will not be able to supply the state's requirement of 2,28,000 metric tonne, also transportation cost will also be high.
"From Andhra it will cost Rs 42 per kg of rice, Telangana said only paddy is available not rice, Chhattisgarh CM told me they are in a position to supply 1 lakh metric tonne of rice only for one month, Punjab CM said he will discuss with officials and get back," he said.
Such a large quantity of rice is not available in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah said, "we will have to go for a tender in the open market, it will take a minimum of two months".
"So we have called for quotations from central government agencies like NCCF, NAFED, Kendriya Bhandar, we will get to know tomorrow, once we get to know we will decide. There may be slight delay in implementing the scheme as the central government has played politics," he said.
Siddaramaiah and his ministers have been accusing the BJP-led government at the Centre of conspiring to "fail" the Congress administration's poll guarantee by ensuring that the state doesn't get the required amount of rice for rolling out the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, from July 1, as promised.
They have alleged that the Centre discontinued the sale of wheat and rice under OMSS(D) for state governments, a day after the FCI -- which has large quantity of stocks -- had agreed to provide 2,28,425.750 metric tonne of rice to Karnataka, at a rate of Rs 34 per kg on June 12.
The BJP has hit back accusing Congress and Siddaramaiah of blatantly lying to hide their own incompetence and are desperately trying to blame Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the Centre.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
