HUB, March 5: About 1.1 million tons of wheat worth Rs40 million may go to waste due to alleged negligence of the local food department.

The food department was supposed to sell the wheat stock during 2001-02, but it neither properly checked the stock nor disposed it of during that period, Dawn has learnt from sources.

According to the sources, the owners of local floor mills have refused to buy the wheat from the food department, terming the grain damaged and of sub-standard quality.

They mill owners say they prefer to buy standard wheat from the open market of Karachi. They claim that fresh and good quality of wheat was available in the open market of Karachi at nominal prices.

The sources said the wheat stock had been damaged by improper and prolonged storage in the godowns of the food department.

Hub Tehsil Nazim Jamil Gichki inspected the stock recently and expressed his anger over the negligence of the food officials concerned.

The sources said Lasbela district Nazim Jam Kamal Khan had been informed about the matter.