By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, February 3, 2016 : The Odisha government on Wednesday asked the Centre to release the pending quota of food-grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) from November 2015 to January 2016.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the Centre released less food grains than the state’s requirements during the three-month period and requested to release the same at the earliest.

“Government of India has been requested for release of 3.2 lakh MT rice and 52,900 MT wheat for the allotment months November 2015 to January 2016. But, the GoI has so far released 2.92 lakh MT rice and 78,400 MT wheat against the above requirement of food grains,” the letter read.

The state government is distributing 85.82 percent rice and 14.18 percent wheat to the people since November 2015 but the central government is providing the food grain in a proportion of 78.83 percent and 21.17 percent respectively, it added.

There was a shortfall of 27,900 MT rice and 25,500 MT wheat, Patnaik said in the letter. The State’s request was based on 85.82:14.18 which has been derived from the options of the NFSA beneficiaries, the letter added.

Pointing out that Odisha is a rice consuming state where most of the people prefer rice as their staple diet, the Chief Minister said failure to supply grains as per their choice will be against the spirit of the act, requesting the prime minister to intervene in the matter.

The Odisha government on Tuesday decided to request the union government to provide more rice allotment instead of wheat under National Food Security Act (NFSA) being implemented in the state.