Lok Sabha Question No. 938 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Wastage of Foodgrains due to Poor Storage Facilities
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK, BHARATI DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL, KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.938 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2018

## WASTAGE OF FOODGRAINS DUE TO POOR STORAGE FACILITIES

## 938.  SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

DR. BHARATIBEN D. SHYAL:

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  foodgrains  are  wasted  every year  during the rainy season due to lack of proper storage facilities and if so, the details thereof in terms of tonnage;
- (b) the  action  plan  prepared  by  the  Government  to  deal  with  the  said
- problem;
- (c) whether the Government has fixed any accountability in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the  foodgrain  storage  capacity  of  public  and  private  sector  godowns separately in the country at present; and
- (e) the  total  quantum  of  foodgrains  stored  in  these  godowns  at  present along with the storage capacity lying unused?

## 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  to  lack  of  storage  facilities  in  Food  Corporation  of  India  (FCI).  The storage capacity of 855.98 Lakh MT is available against the stocks of 650.53 Lakh MT as on 01.07.2018.
- (b)  Following  steps  have  been  taken  by  the  Government  to  augment  covered storage capacity:

1. Government has formulated Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme for construction of godowns by private parties, Central Warehouse Corporation (CWC),  State  Warehouse  Corporations  (SWCs)  and  other  State  agencies  for storage of foodgrains. Storage capacity of 141.37 Lakh MT has been created as on  30.06.2018.  In  addition  Storage  capacity  of  1,25,610  MT  in  North  Eastern States and 20,000 MT in States other than NE States as on 31 st  March 2017 has been created under 12 th  Five Year Plan.
2.   In order to avoid damage of foodgrains from rain following steps are taken:
- a. The trucks transporting foodgrains are covered with tarpaulins on all sides and carefully examined on receipt at the destination to ensure that no bags get wet.
- b. Before rainy season godowns are carefully examined and any suspected leakage points are got repaired.
- c. Underground drains fed by rain water pipes are periodically examined against choking, if any.
- d. On the rainy day, the doors and ventilators of godowns are kept closed to check the rain water entry in the godowns.
3.   Steps taken to avoid the damage of foodgrains in storage are at ANNEXURE-I.
8. (c): Whenever  accrual  of  any  quantity  of  damaged  foodgrains  is  noticed, each case is investigated immediately and action by the concerned authority is invariably  taken  against  officials  found  responsible.  The  details  of  the  action taken  against  the  officers/employees  of  FCI  found  responsible  for  damage  to foodgrains due to rain during last five years are at ANNEXURE-II.
9. (d): As on 30.06.2018, Storage capacity with FCI which is owned and hired from CWC/State Govt./PEG/Private agencies for storage of central pool stock is 381.06  Lakh  MT  (Public  -  264.58  Lakh  MT  and  Private-116.48  Lakh  MT).    In addition, 474.92 Lakh MT of storage capacity is utilized by State Governments for keeping Central Pool Stocks.
10. (e): Utilization of storage capacity varies from month to month and day to day depending on the level of procurement and issue. The detail of the quantum of  foodgrains  stored  in  storage  capacity  with  %  age  as  on  31.03.2018  is  as under:

(Figure in Lakh MT)

|                 | Covered   | Covered   | Covered   | CAP   | CAP   | CAP   | Total   |
|-----------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------|-------|-------|---------|
|                 | Owned     | Hired     | Total     | Owned | Hired | Total |         |
| Capacity        | 128.42    | 208.06    | 336.48    | 26.02 | 0.00  | 26.02 | 362.50  |
| Stocks          | 92.18     | 184.75    | 276.93    | 0.00  | 0.00  | 0.00  | 276.93  |
| Utilization (%) | 72        | 89        | 82        | 0     | 0     | 0     | 76      |

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 938 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2018 IN LOK SABHA.

## STEPS TAKEN TO AVOID THE DAMAGE OF FOODGRAINS IN STORAGE ARE AS UNDER:

- (i) All godowns are constructed as per specifications.
- (ii) Foodgrains are stored by adopting proper scientific code of storage practices.
- (iii) Adequate dunnage materials such as wooden crates, bamboo mats, polythene sheets are used to check migration of moisture from the floor to the foodgrains.
- (iv) Fumigation  covers,  nylon  ropes,  nets  and  insecticides  for  control  of  stored  grain  insect pests are provided in all the godowns.
- (v) Prophylactic (spraying of insecticides) and curative treatments (fumigation) are carried out regularly and timely in godowns for the control of stored grain insect pests.
- (vi) Effective  rat  control  measures,  both  in  covered  godowns  as  well  as  in  CAP  storage  are used.
- (vii) Foodgrains in 'Cover and Plinth' (CAP) storage are stored on elevated plinths and wooden crates  are  used  as  dunnage  material.  Stacks  are  properly  covered  with  specifically fabricated low-density black polythene water-proof covers and tied with nylon ropes/nets.
- (viii) Regular  periodic  inspections  of  the  stocks/godowns  are  undertaken  by  qualified  and trained staff and all senior officers. The health of the foodgrains is monitored at regular intervals by a system of checks and super checks at different levels. Following Checks and Super  checks  are  conducted  in  the  godowns  by  FCI  to  ensure  proper  preservation  of foodgrains in the storage.
- a) Fortnightly inspection of stocks on 100% basis by Technical Assistant.
- b) Monthly inspection by Manager(QC)
- c) Quarterly inspection by AGM(QC)
- d) Super Checks by Regional, Zonal and FCI Hqrs Squads.
- (xi) The  principle  of  'First  in  First  Out'  (FIFO)  is  followed  to  the  extent  possible  so  as  to avoid longer storage of foodgrains in godowns.
- (x) Only covered  rail  wagons  are  used  for  movement  of  foodgrains  so  as  to  avoid  damage during transit.
- (xi)  Damage  Monitoring  Cells  have  been  set  up  at  District,  Regional  and  Zonal  levels  to regularly monitor quality of stocks and reduce damages.

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## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (c)  OF  UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO  938  TO  BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  JULY, 2018 IN LOK SABHA.

## DETAILS OF THE ACTION TAKEN AGAINST THE OFFICERS/EMPLOYEES OF FCI RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE TO FOODGRAINS DUE TO RAIN DURING LAST FIVE YEARS

|   Sl. No. | Region         | Name of officials Shri   | Designation                  | Penalty Imposed                                        |
|-----------|----------------|--------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Bihar          | S.P. Ram                 | Manager(D), FSD Mokama       | Reduction to initial pay in the time scale of Manager  |
|         2 | Kerala         | P.O. Sunny               | Manager(Civil), FSD Kollam   | Penalty of "CENSURE"                                   |
|         3 | Tamil Nadu     | D.V.Lakshmi Narayanan    | Manager(Civil), FSD Avadi    | Recovery of Rs. 25,000/-                               |
|         3 | Tamil Nadu     | V. Panneer Selvam        | Manager(QC), FSD Tvkoil      | Reduction of 2 stages in the pay scale till retirement |
|         3 | Tamil Nadu     | P. Murugavel             | Manager(Civil), FSD Egmore   | Warning Issued                                         |
|         3 | Tamil Nadu     | P. Mugunthan             | Manager(Civil), FSD Avadi    | Warning Issued                                         |
|         3 | Tamil Nadu     | M. Kalimuthu             | Manager(Civil), MDCoimbatore | Warning Issued                                         |
|         3 | Tamil Nadu     | C. Balasubramaniam       | Manager(Civil), FSD Egmore   | Warning Issued                                         |
|         3 | Tamil Nadu     | V. Mugunthan             | Manager(Civil), FSD Avadi    | Warning Issued                                         |
|         3 | Tamil Nadu     | Sahadevan                | AG-I(D), FSD Tvkoil          | Reduction of pay by 3 stages with cummulative effect   |
|         4 | Andhra Pradesh | S.C. Narayana            | Manager(D), BSC Jammikunta   | Penalty of "CENSURE" and recovery of Rs. 10,000/-      |
|         4 | Andhra Pradesh | V. Srinivas              | Manager(QC), BSC Jammikunta  | Penalty of "CENSURE" and recovery of Rs. 10,000/-      |
|         5 | Delhi          | D.K. Atri                | Manager(D)                   | Penalty of "CENSURE"                                   |
|         5 | Delhi          | Salwinder Kumar          | Manager(QC)                  | Penalty of "CENSURE"                                   |
|         5 | Delhi          | Akshay Lal Prasad        | Ex. Manager(D)               | Penalty of "CENSURE"                                   |
|         5 | Delhi          | Rohtash Kumar            | Manager(CE)                  | Penalty of "CENSURE"                                   |
|         5 | Delhi          | Satish Minj              | AG-II (D)                    | Recovery of Rs. 1300/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Amarjeet Singh           | AG-II (D)                    | Recovery of Rs. 2700/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Hari Singh               | AG-I (D)                     | Recovery of Rs. 1200/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Amit Bhatnagar           | AG-I (D)                     | Recovery of Rs. 5650/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Rajpal Singh             | AG-I (D)                     | Recovery of Rs. 9000/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Sudhir Kumar             | AG-II (Min)                  | Recovery of Rs. 5800/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Subhash Panwar           | TA III                       | Recovery of Rs. 930/-                                  |
|         5 | Delhi          | Rishab Hingle            | TA III                       | Recovery of Rs. 1000/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Anjana                   | TA III                       | Recovery of Rs. 1400/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Anupam Sinha             | TA III                       | Recovery of Rs. 650/-                                  |
|         5 | Delhi          | Jai Kishan               | AG-I (D)                     | Recovery of Rs. 1100/-                                 |
|         5 | Delhi          | Shesh Raj                | Ex. AG-I (D)                 | Recovery of Rs. 4878/-                                 |

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