Tk 60 lakh down the drain a year
Salary without work as Barisal regional food godown virtually abandoned but no decision on its fate
Our Correspondent, Barisal
The Barisal regional CSD food godown is virtually abandoned for 18 months after spending about Tk 3.5 core for repair and maintenance. But about Tk 60 lakh is now spent annually for salaries of its 60 staff without any work. The government earlier decided not to store food grains in the godown any more because of the changed situation following improvement in road communication in riverine southern districts. But its fate is yet to be decided, Regional Controller of Food Md Kabiruddin told this correspondent. The complex with 30 godowns was built in 1965 on 26 acres of land on the western bank of Kitonkhola river near Barisal city to store and supply food grains to remote areas in the region. More nine godowns were later added, raising the number to 39 and the total capacity to 28,330 tonnes. Normally, up to 22,780 tonnes were stored there. Over the years, road links have been developed in the southern districts. Food grains can now be reached to remote areas in short periods. So there is no necessity for long term storage of food grains in such a big complex. Besides, system loss also created disinterest among a section of government officials in maintain such a 'white elephant'. But the fate of this complex and its valuable lands worth several hundred core taka is yet to be decided. Amid such a situation, Tk 3. 5 core was spent in for its repair and maintenance in 2001. The last consignment of only 2,500 tonnes of rice was stored in only one godowns in 2003 and the rest remained empty as usual. That was also emptied on April 29 this year. Since then, all the godowns are empty. Some pesticides and empty bags are now stored in one of godowns now. The complex employs 60 officials and employees including one manager, three inspectors, 10 sub-inspectors, six assistant sub-inspectors, two lower division clerks, two upper division assistants, 28 security guards, 2 spray man, one T I and six sweepers. The food department has to spend Tk 55 to 60 lakh annually for their salaries. Most of the staff do not come to the complex except on salary day, sources there said. Its manager Abdul Kaium, when contacted, however declined to make any comment. Regional Food Controller Kabiruddin, said the huge complex has outlived its utility following improvement in river and road links. But he declined to speculate on the future of the complex and the lands.
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