Lok Sabha Question No. 1799 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Storage of PDS Paddy in West Bengal
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Shri Saumitra Khan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

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

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1799

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025

## STORAGE OF PDS PADDY IN WEST BENGAL

## 1799. SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:

Will  the Minister of CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the measures taken by the Government to ensure the safe storage  of  Public Distribution  System  (PDS) Paddy in West Bengal during monsoon seasons;
- (b) the percentage of  wastages of  Paddy during the last three years during monsoons in West Bengal due to non-proper storage  facilities  in PDS;
- (c) the manner in  which  the  Government protects foodgrains  from  damage  caused by  heavy rainfall, flooding and other extreme weather events in Public Distribution;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to improve the infrastructure for storing PDS foodgrains in West Bengal including  construction of new godowns and renovation during the last five  years;
- (e) the  initiatives  taken by  the  Government to  reduce material wastage in  the  storage and transportation of PDS foodgrains in West Bengal; and
- (f) the details of funds allotted by the Government for supply of Food and Public Distribution during the last five  years?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRIMATI NIMUBEN JAYANTIBHAI BAMBHANIYA)

(a) &  (b): Department of Food &  Public Distribution (DFPD) continuously assesses and monitors the storage capacity and based on the storage gap assessment, storage  capacities are created/hired, in the country, including  West Bengal, through following  schemes:

- Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme
- Central Sector Scheme (CSS) 'Storage & Godowns' (Focus on NE)
- Hiring  of  godown from  Central  Warehousing Corporation (CWC)/State Corporations (SWCs)/State Agencies Warehousing
- Private Warehousing Scheme (PWS)
- Creation of  godown under Asset Monetization
- Construction of SILOs under Public Private Partner-ship (PPP) mode

However, West Bengal is  a  Decentralized Procurement (DCP) State and no paddy has been procured by the Food Corporation of  India (FCI),  during the last three years, and State Govt. itself undertakes paddy procurement in West Bengal.

(c): The Department follows  specific specifications for the construction of warehouse, which  are in line  with  the  latest  warehousing standards, which  protect  the  warehouse goods. Foodgrains are scientifically stored in warehouses. In case of heavy rainfall, flooding and other extreme weather events, structural vulnerabilities are identified and necessary repairs/maintenance to minimize risks during heavy rains are carried out. Also,  emergency arrangements such as additional Polythene rolls, MLCL  covers, and pumping equipment are kept ready in flood-prone regions.

Further, in  order to  keep its  storage infrastructure  robust  and updated, the  Department is taking various steps for Modernization as under:

## (i) Construction of SILOs under PPP Mode:

Steel Silo  storage with  bulk  handling facility  is  a  highly  mechanized and modernized way of storing food grains in bulk.  It ensures better preservation of food  grains and enhances its shelf life. If  food grains are stored in  Silos  and transported in  bulk, losses due to  theft, pilferage and transportation would  be  negligible  compared to  food  grains storage in  bags in  conventional warehouses.

## (ii)  Smart Warehouse Project :-

Department has undertaken a pilot  project on Smart Warehousing Technologies in  150 Godowns of FCI and all the food grain warehouses of Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), which includes CCTV  Surveillance  and loT  sensors for  monitoring key  parameters such as C02  &  Phosphine levels, fire  hazards, humidity,  unauthorized entry and temperature on real time  basis for  ensuring security and efficiency in foodgrain storage.

(iii)  Depot  Darpan  Portal  has also been introduced in the step of  Modernization  and Digitization of  storage facilities of FCI &  CWC. The Portal facilitates self-assessment, rating, and grading of storage facilities.

(d): Storage capacities are being created/hired, through various schemes mentioned at Point  (a) & (b)

Further, according to  requirement of  various Food Storage Depots, under West Bengal Region, the Food Corporation of  India (FCI), has initiated  several Repair Maintenance &  colouring including  flooring,  boundary wall  works and construction of new cement concrete road and roofing works. Out of  which several works are already completed and rest will  be completed by 31.03.2026. In addition, necessary petty fund has been allotted to all depots to carry out day to day repair and maintenance works.

The CWC is also taking steps to  improve its  storage  infrastructure through initiatives  such as :-

- Replacement of AC Sheets with Galvalume Sheets.
- Use of FM2 Flooring.
- Installation of Wall Cladding/Puff Panels
- Incorporation of Air Bubble Wrap Sheets.
- (e): To modernize the food supply chain in the country, the Department is constructing modern steel silos  and envisaging bulk  transportation of  food  grains through  specialized wagons and containers  under PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode. Steel Silo storage  with  bulk  handling is a highly automated  and  modernized method  of storing food grains in bulk. It ensures  better preservation of food grains and reduced losses.

Moreover, the measures taken to reduce Storage Losses &  Transit Losses are attached as Annexure.

- (f): Release of  food  subsidy is a continuous process and is released as per the extant principles and availability of  fund after due examination of the admissibility of  the claims of  the State Government. Details of  food subsidy released to the  Govt  of  West Bengal  since last  5 years and current year is as under:

(in Rs crores)

|   2020-21 | 2021-22   |   2022-23 |   2023-24 |   2024-25 |   2025-26 (as on 02/12/2025 |
|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------------------------|
|   8792.03 | 542 1 .34 |   6580.11 |     0.008 |   8899.88 |                     9352.14 |

+ Food Subsidy could not be released on account of pending reconciliation  of distribution  data by State Govt and accordingly,  the said bills  of FY 2023-24 onwards have been released now in FY  2025-26

S( RSc  +c + R

## Measures taken  to reduce Storage Losses are as under:  -

The position of storage  losses is reviewed in Monthly Performance Review Meetings (MPR) at HQ level and EDs (Zone)/GMs(R) are instructed to intensify inspections/monitoring of depots showing higher storage  & transit losses.

Covered storage capacity has been augmented to avoid  CAP  Storage of food  grains.

Periodical prophylactic and curative treatment of food grains stocks is undertaken to keep them free from pests/infestations  i.e. to minimize  losses due to biotic factors.

Depots exhibiting  high storage  losses in a month are inspected at the level of  ED (Zones), GM (Regions) and other senior officers.

Security staff ofFCI,  Home Guards and other external agencies is being deployed at FCI depots to ensure safety and security of the stock.

CCTV  cameras are installed  in owned depots for better surveillance  and supervision.

Physical measures like installation  of  barbed wire  fencing of the boundary walls,  provision  of street lights for illumination of godowns and proper locking of the sheds are taken to secure the godowns.

Disciplinary  action  is being initiated  against delinquents wherever abnormal/unjustified losses are reported after due investigation.

## Measures taken  to reduce Transit  Losses are as under:  -

- Transit losses are reviewed in Monthly  Performance Review Meeting at Hqrs level.
- Investigation of High Transit Losses at HQ/Zone/Region/District  levels at regular intervals.
- Spreading of  Polythene Sheet on  the  floor  of  railway  wagons to  retrieve  the spilled-over graIns,
- Joint Verification  of high Transit Loss cases to fix  responsibility.  The lower limit  of TL for JV's  has been reduced from  1% to 0.75% and further  0.50% w.e.f  1.10.2022
- Implementation of high security cable seals on wagons at the time of loading offoodgrains  to avoid tempering enroute pilferage w.e.f 1.01. 2022. This led to 92% reduction in number of Rakes reporting abnormal Transit Losses i.e. more than 0.5%
- Made-up bags accured at railhead are being accounted.
- Disciplinary action  is  being  initiated against  delinquents  wherever  abnormal/unjustified transit losses are reported
- Deployment of Independent Consignment Certification Squad (ICCS) at the time of loading /unloading.