Lok Sabha Question No. 1592 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-10
Subject: Foodgrains Stocked at Ports
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1592 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 th   FEBRUARY, 2021

## FOODGRAINS STOCKED AT PORTS

## 1592. DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा�ण�य एवं उ�योग मं�ी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  interest  in  releasing  millions  of  tonnes  of  food grains, pulses, peas, etc. found stocked at various ports in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the status of quantity and value of food grains, pulses, peas, etc. stocked at various sea ports of the country, Port-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to notify and direct the concerned authorities at the respective sea ports to release the huge quantities of food grains, pulses, peas, etc. and ensure that they reach the hands of the poor through public distribution system before these perish by rotting; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the decision taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

okf.kT; ,oa m|ksx ea=ky; esa jkT; ea=h ¼Jh gjnhi flag iqjh½

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AN D INDUSTRY (SHRI HARDEEP SINGH PURI)

- (a) to (d): The Government of India had notified certain changes in the  import policy of peas and  pulses  in  light  of  various  developments  in  the  sector.  These  Notifications  were challenged in various High Courts. Based on ex -parte stay orders against the operations of these  Notifications,  certain  importers  brought  in  quantities  of  pulses  in  excess  of  the stipulations for the years 2017 -18, 2018 -19 and 2019 -20. The Government contested the cases before various High Courts and in order to obtain a common judgment, sought transfer of  all  cases  filed  before  the  various  High  Courts  to  the  Supreme  Court.  The  Hon'ble Supreme Court in its Judgment dated 26 th August, 2020 upheld the notifications and the trade notices and rejected the challenge made by the importers and further directed that the imports,  if  any,  made  relying  on  interim  order(s)  would  be  held  to  be  contrary  to  the notifications.

The disposal of peas and pulses stocked at various sea ports which have been imported by private  importers  in  violation  of  the  Foreign Trade  Policy  and  notifications  issued  there under, will be in accordance with and subject to the Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the relevant provisions of law.

A statement indicating port wise quantity of food grains, peas and pulses lying at various ports pending clearance by Customs Authorities is at Annexure - I.

## Statement referred to in reply of part (a) and (b) of Lok Sabha unstarred question no. 1592 for answer on 10 th February 2021

| Statement indicating quantity of food grains, peas and pulses lying at various ports pending clearance by Customs Authorities   | Statement indicating quantity of food grains, peas and pulses lying at various ports pending clearance by Customs Authorities   | Statement indicating quantity of food grains, peas and pulses lying at various ports pending clearance by Customs Authorities   | Statement indicating quantity of food grains, peas and pulses lying at various ports pending clearance by Customs Authorities   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Sl. Nos.                                                                                                                        | Port                                                                                                                            | Items                                                                                                                           | Quantity in MTS                                                                                                                 |
| 1                                                                                                                               | Mundra &Pipava                                                                                                                  | Food grains etc                                                                                                                 | 913                                                                                                                             |
| 1                                                                                                                               | Mundra &Pipava                                                                                                                  | Peas                                                                                                                            | 108915                                                                                                                          |
| 1                                                                                                                               | Mundra &Pipava                                                                                                                  | Pulses                                                                                                                          | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 2                                                                                                                               | Chennai                                                                                                                         | Food grains                                                                                                                     | 598                                                                                                                             |
| 2                                                                                                                               | Chennai                                                                                                                         | Peas                                                                                                                            | 8447                                                                                                                            |
| 2                                                                                                                               | Chennai                                                                                                                         | Pulses                                                                                                                          | 12968.307                                                                                                                       |
| 3                                                                                                                               | Kolkata                                                                                                                         | Food grains                                                                                                                     | 95.18                                                                                                                           |
| 3                                                                                                                               | Kolkata                                                                                                                         | Peas                                                                                                                            | 1635.75                                                                                                                         |
| 3                                                                                                                               | Kolkata                                                                                                                         | Pulses                                                                                                                          | 3746.84                                                                                                                         |
| 4                                                                                                                               | Mumbai I                                                                                                                        | Food grains                                                                                                                     | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 4                                                                                                                               | Mumbai I                                                                                                                        | Peas                                                                                                                            | 16815                                                                                                                           |
| 4                                                                                                                               | Mumbai I                                                                                                                        | Pulses                                                                                                                          | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 5                                                                                                                               | Mumbai II                                                                                                                       | Food grains                                                                                                                     | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 5                                                                                                                               | Mumbai II                                                                                                                       | Peas                                                                                                                            | 2650                                                                                                                            |
| 5                                                                                                                               | Mumbai II                                                                                                                       | Pulses                                                                                                                          | 93211.46                                                                                                                        |
| 6                                                                                                                               | Cochin                                                                                                                          | Food grains                                                                                                                     | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 6                                                                                                                               | Cochin                                                                                                                          | Peas                                                                                                                            | 596.76                                                                                                                          |
| 6                                                                                                                               | Cochin                                                                                                                          | Pulses                                                                                                                          | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 7                                                                                                                               | Tutocorin                                                                                                                       | Food grains                                                                                                                     | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 7                                                                                                                               | Tutocorin                                                                                                                       | Peas                                                                                                                            | 5846.78                                                                                                                         |
| 7                                                                                                                               | Tutocorin                                                                                                                       | Pulses                                                                                                                          | 3702.387                                                                                                                        |
| 8                                                                                                                               | Vishakhapatnam                                                                                                                  | Food grains                                                                                                                     | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 8                                                                                                                               | Vishakhapatnam                                                                                                                  | Peas                                                                                                                            | 6479.329                                                                                                                        |
| 8                                                                                                                               | Vishakhapatnam                                                                                                                  | Pulses                                                                                                                          | NIL                                                                                                                             |
| 8                                                                                                                               |                                                                                                                                 | Total                                                                                                                           | 266620.8                                                                                                                        |

Source: Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs

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