Maharashtra to dispose of controversial red wheat

A part of the consignment imported from Australia, which was found to be safe for human consumption during tests carried out in November, will be sold in the open market while the rest will be disposed of in dumping grounds, Maharashtra food and civil supplies minister Sunil Tatkare said.

He also made it clear that it would not be distributed through PDS (public distribution system) and other state-run welfare schemes.

But the government has come with an open tender as some samples were found safe. Bulk buyers like bakery owners are expected to apply for the tenders to be floated at the district level. The government has fixed Rs 670 a tonne as the base price for the wheat.

Disagreeing with the move, BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said the entire wheat has decomposed and should be thrown away.

The reason for withdrawing distribution was that the wheat contained more uric acid than the prescribed limit.

The controversy started when wheat was distributed under the targeted PDS. But analysis carried by the state public health laboratory, Pune, found that some samples were unfit for human consumption.