New Delhi, July 15: Restricting the movement of wheat by road, government today said its transportation would be permitted only upto this month end. Exporters of wheat would be permitted to transport sound wheat by road to port towns and/or border points, for the purpose of exports only upto July 31, 2003, an official release said here.

Movement of wheat by road was allowed on account of shortage of rakes. However, transport of wheat by road in respect of all export contracts entered into upto July 31, 2003 relating to 1999-2000 and earlier crop years will be allowed upto September 30, 2003, it said and added that in all other cases road movement of wheat for export purpose beyond August 01, 2003 was not permissible.

Export of foodgrains recorded an all-time high during June, 2003 with an actual shipment of 4.59 lakh metric tonnes of wheat against a quantity of 6.66 lakh metric tonnes having been lifted and 22.15 lakh metric tonnes paid for. In the case of rice, 3.57 lakh metric tonnes was exported in June 2003 while 6.41 lakh metric tonnes was lifted for export and 15.96 lakh metric tonnes was paid for.

The total export of wheat and rice from central pool during the last three years upto June, 2003 stands at 197.1 lkh metric tonnes against a quantity of 262.67 lakh metric tonnes having been lifted and 320.56 lakh metric tonnes paid for.

In 2002-03, the total export of foodgrains was 106.13 lakh metric tonnes against 51.47 lakh metric tonnes in 2001-02, it said. Bureau report