Lok Sabha Question No. 4361 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Storage Capacity
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAMESH BIDHURI, B.V. NAYAK, MEENAKASHI LEKHI, SRINIVAS KESINENI, P.R. SUNDARAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4361 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28 th  MARCH, 2017 STORAGE CAPACITY

4361.

SHRI RAMESH BIDHURI:

SHRI B.V. NAIK:

SHRIMATI MEENAKASHI LEKHI:

SHRI KESINENI NANI:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

Will the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  quantum  of  foodgrains  along  with  their  monetary  value  that  got wasted  due  to  non-availability  of  storage  facilities  during  the  last  three years;
- (b) the  storage  mechanism  used  to  store  different  types  of  food,  the details thereof;
- (c) whether there are any plans for construction of FCI storage godowns in the State of Andhra Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  storage  cost  incurred  by  the  Government  for  storing  different grains in its godowns for the last three years, State/ UT-wise; and
- (e) whether any proposal is pending to encourage private participation in the project to build warehouses for foodgrains, if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

MINISTER OF STATE FOR  CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a): No wastage of Central Pool foodgrains (wheat & rice) can be directly attributed due to lack of storage facilities in Food Corporation of India (FCI). Procured  foodgrains  are  stored  by  FCI  in  a  scientific  manner  in  covered godowns and in Cover & Plinth (CAP) storage. Scientific codes of practices for  safe  storage  of  foodgrains  are  followed  during  storage.  Inspite  of  all precautions,  some  quantity  of  foodgrains  may  get  damaged/become  nonissuable during storage due to various reasons such as storage pests' attack, leakages in godowns, procurement of poor quality stocks, exposure to rains, floods, negligence on the part of concerned persons in taking precautionary measures etc. The quantity of foodgrains accrued as damaged/non-issuable in FCI and its value during last three years is as under:

|   S.No. | Year    |   Quantity (in tons) |   Value (in Rupees crores) |
|---------|---------|----------------------|----------------------------|
|       1 | 2013-14 |             24695.5  |                      23.48 |
|       2 | 2014-15 |             18847.2  |                      19.9  |
|       3 | 2015-16 |              3115.68 |                       3.44 |

Sufficient  storage  capacity  (776.25  lakh  tons)  are  available  for storage of Central Pool foodgrains with FCI and State agencies against the stock of 298.36 lakh tons as on 28.02.2017.

- (b): Wheat is stored in covered storage, cover & plinth (CAP) storage and silos. Rice is stored in covered godowns only and paddy is stored in covered godowns and CAP storage.

## (c): There  is  no  plan  for  construction  of  FCI  godowns  in  the  State  of Andhra Pradesh.

(d): Storage cost incurred by FCI for last three year is as under:

| Year    |   Storage Cost (figure in Rs. crores) |
|---------|---------------------------------------|
| 2013-14 |                               2164.58 |
| 2014-15 |                               2376.6  |
| 2015-16 |                               2021.24 |

Note: State/UT-wise figures are not available.

(e): Government of India has formulated Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee  (PEG)  Scheme  in  the  year  of  2008  &  2009  for  construction  of warehouses through Private Entrepreneurs, CWC, SWCs and State agencies. A 10 years guarantee for hiring is given in case of private investors  and 9 years  in  case  of  CWC,  SWCs  and  other  State  agencies.  Godowns  are constructed by the private parties, CWC and SWCs and other State agencies by  arranging  their  own  funds  and  lands.  FCI  takes  over  the  godowns  after construction. A capacity of 151.04 lakh tons has been sanctioned/allotted to Private Investors, CWC and SWCs. A capacity of 136.03 lakh tons has already been completed as on 31.01.2017.

Government has approved action plan for construction of steel silos in the country for a capacity of 100 lakh tons with the help of private investors.

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