Thiruvananthapuram: Food grains worth Rs 3.5 crore went missing from various godowns across the state. According to the primary assumption of the State Food Commission, over 1000 tons of food grains went missing. This data was revealed after conducting inspections at some godowns in the state. It is reported that the number of missing food grains will go up once the officials complete the inspection in all godowns.

The State Food Commission found that Thiruvananthapuram has topped in the illegal sale of food grains. Thrissur was placed second in the list.

Even after food safety act came into force, the officials have not carried out effective inspection of stocks at the godowns of civil supplies. It is reported that failure to store food grains in a scientific way led to the cancellation of inspections. But this turned a blessing in disguise for the ration fraudsters.

So far, the State Food Commission registered 7 cases over the illegal sale of ration food grains. The first case was registered for distributing rotten wheat in Thrissur district. Distribution of expired rice and wheat at an Anganwadi in Attapadi was the second case.

Two cases were registered for using old sack to store rice after husking it from procured paddy in Alappuzha and Ernakulam. Supplyco MD was booked in the case for not taking sample while procuring paddy.

State Rationing Controller was booked over ration card fraud. The State Food Commission registered the last case over missing of 160 tonnes of rice from NFSA godown in Alappuzha.

State Food commission to submit report by April

Food Commission member B Rajendran informed that a report on food grains distribution in state prepared by the commission will be submitted to the government by April.

Food Commission chairman KV Mohan Kumar and other members carried out evidence collection across the state to prepare the report.