The Dehradun district administration has intensified its crackdown on irregularities at the Gularghati food warehouse following the surprise inspection by District Magistrate (DM) Savin Bansal. On the second day of inspections, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Jay Bharat Singh led the administrative team to conduct sampling of rice stocks stored in various lots.
Significant Irregularities Detected
During the sampling, many rice lots were found to be of substandard quality, failing to meet the required standards. As a result, instructions were issued to destroy the rejected grains. ADM Singh emphasized the necessity of maintaining proper storage under the First In, First Out (FIFO) method to ensure the timely distribution of quality food grains.
The DM had previously expressed dissatisfaction over the poor maintenance of the warehouse, the lack of proper record-keeping, and inadequate pest control measures. The absence of rodent control arrangements, in particular, drew strong criticism. Following the inspection, the DM directed immediate corrective actions to address these issues.
Suspension Orders Anticipated
With ongoing investigations, the DM has reportedly decided to suspend the Storage Manager Officer (SMO) and Assistant Regional Officer (ARO) due to the suspected manipulation of records and the failure of multiple samples. On the second day alone, 12 rice lots failed quality checks.
The administration remains vigilant in verifying the quality of every grain lot stored at the warehouse. Officials have indicated that more rejected lots will be disposed of in the coming days.
The inspection was conducted in the presence of various officials, including Regional Food Inspector Banshi Lal Rana, Deputy RMO Annu Jackre, Tehsildar Satendra Dev, District Supply Officer K.K. Agarwal, and other revenue officers and administrative staff. The district administration has reiterated its commitment to maintaining transparency and ensuring that only quality food reaches the public. The ongoing inspection and sampling process will continue until all necessary corrective measures are implemented.
