Lok Sabha Question No. 3628 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: Problems in Foodgrain Management
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: RATTAN LAL KATARIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3628

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  AUGUST, 2015

## PROBLEMS IN FOODGRAIN MANAGEMENT

## 3628. SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA:

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  several  States  have  refused  to  lift  wheat  stored  in  the bufferstock owing to its poor quality, if so, the details thereof during the last three years, State-wise;
- (b) whether this has led to excess stock and storage of buffer stock in the open, if so, the details of the buffer stock lying in the open, State-wise;
- (c) whether difficulty is being faced in timely transportation of foodgrains to their respective destination owing to transport problems, if so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to tackle this problem; and
- (d) whether any rules have been formulated by the Food Corporation of India  to  regulate  buffer  stock  of  foodgrains  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof ?

## A N S W E R MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

## (SHRI RAM  VILAS PASWAN)

- (a): No Madam, no State Government has refused to lift wheat stocks owing to its poor quality during last three years.
- (b): No Madam,  Availability of foodgrains in the Central Pool is dependent  upon  production  and  procurement  of  foodgrains  besides  offtake. The  stock  of  foodgrains,  surplus  available  over  and  above  the Stocking Norms as on 01.07.2015 is as under:-

(Figs. in lakh tons)

|                                        |   Wheat |   Rice |   Total |
|----------------------------------------|---------|--------|---------|
| Stocking Norms for 1 st July           |  275.80 | 135.40 |  411.20 |
| Stock in Central Pool as on 01.07.2015 |  386.80 | 216.71 |  603.51 |
| Excess stock                           |  111.00 |  81.31 |  192.31 |

State-wise details of wheat stored in covered and plinth (CAP) storage is at Annex.

(c): Government  plans  movement  of  foodgrain  from  surplus  regions  to deficit regions every month in advance to meet the foodgrain requirement under various schemes and also to build up buffer stocks. The mode used for  transportation  of  foodgrains  is  90%  by  Rail.  Sometimes  problems like railway operational constraints, unforeseen circumstances due to law & order problems and natural calamities affect movement of foodgrains. However,  with  active  cooperation  and  coordination  amongst  various stakeholders like  Railways,  continuous  movement  and  induction  of foodgrains to recipient regions is ensured.

(d): Govt.  prescribe  stocking  norms  for  foodgrains  in  the  Central  Pool. The stock over and above the stocking norms is disposed off by the Govt. of India through adhoc additional allocations under PDS, sale under Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) and export. A committee comprising of Secretaries of Department of F&PD, Department of Expenditure, Department of Consumer Affairs and Department of Commerce has been constituted  to  make  recommendations  regarding  quantity  and  price  at which  foodgrain  stocks  in  central  pool,  over  and  above  the  stocking norms, are to be offloaded either through open sale in domestic market or through exports.

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## ANNEX REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 3628 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 th  AUGUST, 2015 IN LOK SABHA.

## STATE-WISE  DETAILS  OF  WHEAT  STORED  IN  COVERED  AND  PLINTH  (CAP) STORAGE AS ON 1 ST  JULY, 2015.

(fig in tons)

|                | CAP    | CAP          | CAP    | CAP      | CAP          | CAP       | Total    |              |             |
|----------------|--------|--------------|--------|----------|--------------|-----------|----------|--------------|-------------|
| Regions        | Katcha | Katcha       | Katcha | Pucca    | Pucca        | Pucca     |          |              | Grand Total |
| Regions        | FCI    | St. Agencies | Total  | FCI      | St. Agencies | Total     | FCI      | St. Agencies | Grand Total |
| Punjab         | -      | 1,567        | 1,567  | 2,19,418 | 51,34,703    | 53,54,121 | 2,19,418 | 51,36,270    | 53,55,688   |
| Delhi          | -      | -            | -      | 251      | -            | 251       | 251      | -            | 251         |
| Haryana        | -      | -            | -      | 10,030   | 9,86,603     | 9,96,633  | 10,030   | 9,86,603     | 9,96,633    |
| Uttar Pradesh  | -      | -            | -      | 34,428   | -            | 34,428    | 34,428   | -            | 34,428      |
| Rajasthan      | -      | -            | -      | 1,54,631 | -            | 1,54,631  | 1,54,631 | -            | 1,54,631    |
| Andhra Pradesh | -      | -            | -      | 16,228   | -            | 16,228    | 16,228   | -            | 16,228      |
| Madhya Pradesh | -      | -            | -      | 724      | -            | 724       | 724      | -            | 724         |
| Maharashtra    | -      | -            | -      | 292      | -            | 292       | 292      | -            | 292         |
| Grand Total    | -      | 1,567        | 1,567  | 4,36,002 | 61,21,306    | 65,57,308 | 4,36,002 | 61,22,873    | 65,58,875   |

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