The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the government and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) after the BJP complained that wheat procured for the poor was rotting away for lack of godowns.

The commission has sought response in four weeks. It has also asked the government to take effective steps to prevent distribution of the rotten wheat under the public distribution system (PDS) as alleged by the BJP in a petition filed by party secretary Kirit Somaiya on April 26.

Notices have been issued to the secretary, food and public distribution, the secretary agriculture, and the FCI.

In his petition, Somaiya alleged that the rotten wheat was being mixed with other wheat for distribution to the weaker sections of society in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, Somaiya said consumption of the rotten and soiled wheat can even cause food poisoning but neither the centre nor the state governments are bothered to prevent its distribution to the poor.