Ranchi, June 1: Jharkhand has not been supplied foodgrain since December 2002 due to lack of coordination between the Bihar State Food Corporation (SFC) and Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Food and civil supplies minister Devdayal Kushwaha said because of the indifference of the Bihar SFC the supply of foodgrain has been stopped since December last year.

He added that the Jharkhand SFC was not yet formed and it was another reason for the shortage of foodgrain.

“We are now trying to set up the SFC here, but a formal decision to this effect is yet to be taken,” he added.

Kushwaha also admitted that mobilisation of funds by the cooperative banks has been stopped for the past couple of months.

“The cooperative banks have virtually become defunct. We have to make these banks functional soon. We are concentrating on the recovery of dues and early settlement of long pending cases,” he said.

Kushwaha also said the government did not intend to set up Land Development Bank (LDB) in the state.

“It will prove to be very risky if the bank is set up before the settlement of the assets and liabilities dispute. Patna-based LDB and Biscomaun are caught in the vicious debt trap. We can’t afford to take chances,” he added.

The minister said he has apprised the chief minister of the status report of his department and certain decisions would be taken soon.

“The chief minister has called a press conference on June 6. The minister and secretaries of the food and civil supply and cooperative departments have been asked to participate in it,” he added.

Union food and civil supplies minister Sharad Yadav, during his last visit to Ranchi had said Jharkhand was not availing of the benefits under the BPL red card scheme.

At that time Babulal Marandi was the chief minister and Yadav’s statement had caused a flutter in the political circle.

Even Dayal admits to lapses in this front.