AGARTALA, May 19 (TIWN): Tripura likely to fall in serious food crisis by the next month if the supply of foodstuff mainly rice does not increased substantially. According to sources, the food stock used to stand at 70 – 80 days during last few years, it has gone down to the count of only 30 days owing to irregular supply of food stuff leaving aside all extra demands.

Supply of food in the landlocked state has gone down drastically as a result and the existing stock are all about to get depleted. The state government had requested the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to help in building up a buffer stock for 90 days in the state.

The crisis is entirely due to the poor placement of railway wagons and non– cooperative attitude of FCI. The state has demanded an increase in rice carrying wagons to 40 and 25 trucks  immediately to beef up the food supply position. Since the beginning of last month, the government has been sending SOS to the Centre since the beginning of last month to ensure proper food supply in the state.

 Meanwhile the Bangladesh government has permitted transportation of 10,000 MT food grains to Tripura through Ashuganj river port on river Meghna in Comilla district of Bangladesh. The barge containing the food grains will sail from Haldia port in West Bengal for Ashuganj port. The food grains to be unloaded at Ashuganj river port will arrive in Tripura on trucks by road.