Lok Sabha Question No. 3625 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-08
Subject: Loss of Foodgrains under PDS
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: SULTAN  AHMED, BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3625 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 th  AUGUST, 2017 LOSS OF FOODGRAINS UNDER PDS

## 3625.   SHRI SULTAN AHMED:

SHRI BHAIRON PRASAD MISHRA:

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  which  are  kept  in  the  open  under tarpauling or tinsheds distributed by ration shops;
- (b) the  new  measures  undertaken  by  the  Government  to  store  these foodgrains;
- (c) the  details  of  the  loss  of  foodgrains  to  pilferage  and  transportation under PDS during last three years and the current year, State/UT wise;
- (d) the mechanism in place to curb/eliminate such trend and the steps taken /proposed to strengthen the mechanism; and
- (e) the quantum of foodgrains pilferaged from open as well as covered storage/ stock separately during the last three years ?

## A N S W E R

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

- (a): Central Government is responsible for procurement, storage, allocation  and  transportation  of  foodgrains  upto  the  designated  depots  of FCI.  It  is  the  responsibility  of  the  concerned  State  Government/  UT administration to ensure that during transportation and storage at different stages in the distribution chain, the foodgrains retain the required quality specifications formulated by the Government of India.

Rice is stored in covered godowns and wheat is stored in covered and Cover and Plinth (CAP) storage. CAP is a temporary storage and wheat stored in CAP issued on priority basis.

The quantity of wheat stored in CAP by FCI on 1 st  June of the year 2016-17 & 2017-18 was 265099 tonnes and 342496 tonnes respectively.

The storage capacity available with Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State agencies for Central Pool stock is 794.48 Lakh tonnes (Covered643.71  lakh  tonnes  and  CAP-  150.77  lakh  tonnes)  against  the  foodgrain stock of 533.19 Lakh tonnes as on 30.06.2017.

(b):  Following  measures  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  augment covered storage capacity:

- Government  has  formulated  private  entrepreneurs  guarantee  (PEG) Scheme  for  construction  of  godowns  for  storage  of  foodgrains  by private parties, CWC,  SWCs  and  other  State agencies. Storage capacity of 138.51 lakh tons has been completed as on 30.06.2017.
- In  addition,  a  capacity  of  1,17,680  tons  in  North  Eastern  States  and 20,000  tons  in  other  than  NE  States  has  been  completed  under  12 th Five Year Plan.
- Government  has  also  approved  action  plan  for  construction  of  steel Silos for a capacity of 100 lakh tons in a phased manner.

(c), (d) & (e): It is the responsibility of the concerned State Government/UT administration to curb/eliminate losses of foodgrains due to pilferage and transport during transportation and storage at different stages in  the  distribution  chain  after  issue  of  stocks  from  the  designated  FCI godowns for distribution in the PDS.

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