Lok Sabha Question No. 380 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-15
Subject: Inadequate Storage Capacity
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINTSTRY OF GONSUMER  AFFAIRS, FOOD A PUBLIG DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMET{T OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UI{STARRED OUESTION NO.38O TO BE ANSWERED  Ol{ lsth SEPTEMBER, 2O2O

## INADEQUATE STORAGE  CAPAGITY

## 38O. SHR! BIDYUTBARAN MAHATO: SHRI SUDHHER GUPTA:

Witl the Minister of  GONSUMER  AFFAIRS' FOOD AND PUBLIC DtsrRlBUTIoil 5qsttrdr erer&, urr-+  git{  Frffi*,  Fiflvr d'* be pleased to state:

- (a)  the total number of warehouses  in the country along with the foodgrains storage capacity thereofi
- (b)  whether the Government has taken cognizance of the ract that every year a lot of foodgrains  get spoiled due to inadequate storage capaclty of foodgrains  in the country;
- (c) if so,the remedial  steps taken/being taken by the Government  in this regard;  and
- (d)  the names ofthe States having excess storage capacity at present?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF GONSUMER  AFFAIRS' FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTIOl{

(SHR! DA}IVE RAOSAHEB  DADARAO)

(a) to (c): As on 31.08.2O2O,  there are 2O84 Food Gorporation ol lndia (FGl) warehouses (owned & hired) and the storage capacity on that date including  covered  and Gover and Ptinth  (CAP) is approximately 8{7 LMT against total stocks of 7OO.27  LMT.

2t-

No damage to foodgrains is directly attributed to lack of adequate storage capacity. Foodgrains stocked with FGI are  Preserved  scientifically. A negtigible quantity become non-issuable due to various reasons mainly:

- i. Due to natural calamities  Iike cyclone/flood  damages.
- ii. Transit damages viz. enroute damage in wagon/truck due to contamination, wagon roof leakage etc.
- iii. !n some cases due to negligence of officials/officersr  for which suitable disciplinary  action against defaulters are invariably  taken.

The quantum of damaged foodgrains in FCI during the last three years and curent  year is tabulated below:

| Year                     | Damage Accrual in FCI (in LMT)   | 7" Damaged foodgrains against offtake quantity   |
|--------------------------|----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
| 2017-14                  | o,o27                            | o.006                                            |
| 2014-19                  | o.o5                             | 0.or                                             |
| 2019-20                  | 0.o2                             | o.o04                                            |
| 2020-21 (as on 3l-O7-2O) | o.ol5t                           | o.oo56                                           |

Governmenl of lndia, in 2016, has also approved an action plan lor construction  of steel silos an the country for a capaci$ of {OO LMT in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode for  modernizing storage infrastructure  and -mproving  shelf life of stored foodgrains.

(d): Tota! Gapacity avaitable with FGI is as per requirement.  The utitization  of storage capacity depends upon the level of Procurementt movement of fooclgrains etc. and may differ from time to time. ln procuring regions, the capacaty utllization is maxlmum when procurement  operations are going on but, subsequently,  the stock is moved to deficit regions. This leads to liquidation of stock and the utalization of Gapacity also goes down hence, the capacaty temporarity becomes surplus at  micro level but overall,  i.e., at macro tevet, the capacity with FGI as as per requirement'