Shimla: A meeting chaired by State Food Commission Chairman Dr. S. P. Katyal was held today with flour mill owners from Shimla, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, and Mandi districts to review key aspects of wheat procurement and distribution under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The meeting focused on procurement, quality control, processing, packaging, fortification, and distribution of wheat and wheat flour supplied through the government system. Detailed discussions were held to ensure strict compliance with milling standards and hygiene protocols.
Officials emphasized adherence to fortification norms prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), including mandatory enrichment of wheat flour with iron, folic acid, and Vitamin B12. Mill owners were encouraged to adopt micro-feeder technology to ensure accurate mixing of fortification premix.
Packaging-related issues were also discussed, including shelf life of bags and lamination standards. Millers requested permissible weight tolerance considering moisture fluctuations during storage and transportation.
To reduce transportation costs and improve efficiency, it was decided that district-wise rational allocation (mapping) would be implemented. Authorities also agreed to strengthen inspection mechanisms and ensure platform weighing of vehicles at warehouses to prevent leakage and maintain quantity accuracy.
Millers were instructed to reject low-quality or contaminated wheat supplied from Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouses and maintain proper documentation for replacement. They were also directed to submit regular district-wise consolidated reports regarding procurement and milling timelines to respective district controllers.
The meeting further resolved to strengthen pre-dispatch testing systems for quality assurance and stressed the need to establish additional testing laboratories in industrial areas for timely and scientific quality checks.
Discussions were also held on adopting digital record-keeping systems to enhance transparency and accountability in procurement, milling, and distribution processes.
Mill owners highlighted operational challenges, including rising packaging, transportation, and electricity costs. Senior officials of the commission were also present during the meeting.
