M A I N   N E W S

Walkout as wheat import rocks House

New Delhi, May 12
The issue of wheat import rocked the Rajya Sabha today with the BJP-led NDA charging the government with compromising on the interest of farmers, before staging a walkout in the House.

Amidst the melee during Question Hour, Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat said he was postponing the question and would allow a discussion on the matter after the members gave notice.

Despite the assurance, CPM member Sitaram Yechuri demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was present in the House, should be available during the discussions.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said since the Prime Minister had a busy schedule, he would have to see his availability to be able to take part in the discussion. "It will be difficult for the Prime Minister to be present on all discussions on members demand", Dasmunsi said.

Earlier, BJP members led by Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi sought an explanation as to why the government was importing wheat as this would affect the interest of farmers.

In reply to a query, Minister of State for Agriculture, Akhilesh Prasad Singh admitted that as against the earlier expectation of 162 lakh tonnes of wheat procurement, the figure would be around 95-100 lakh tonnes. He also said the Mysore testing laboratory had cleared the wheat import consignments from Australia that were held up at Chennai port.

Ms Swaraj said the lab had mentioned the pesticide content was 50 times more than the permissible level yet the consignments were cleared.

CPIM member Brinda Karat was also on her feet saying that despite the Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's estimates of 162 lakh tonnes of wheat procurement, the government was importing wheat.

Justifying the decision to import 5 lakh tonnes of wheat for southern states, Akhilesh Prasad Singh said this would work out cheaper than transporting wheat from the northern states.

He said the economic cost of the imported wheat would work out to Rs 10.30 per kg.

The minister said as per the tender finalised by the State Trading Corporation, the contract for import of 5 lakh tonnes of wheat had been awarded to the lowest bidder M/s Australian Wheat Board at a price of $178.75 per metric tonne. The landed cost at the ports works out to Rs 798.12 per quintal. He said wheat procurement by the government agency had declined due to aggressive buying by private players.

The minister said since the contract had been finalised on cost and freight basis, the transportation cost to the Indian ports was included in the price of wheat to be paid to the suppliers. — PTI