Question : DAMAGE TO FOODGRAINS

(a) whether the Government has received any reports/complaints regarding loss of foodgrains due to inadequate storage, pest infestation and other reasons during the last three years including the previous kharif season;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto indicating the quantum of foodgrains procured, storage capacity required and available and foodgrains damaged during the said period, State-wise;

(c) the targets fixed and achieved regarding construction of storage godowns during the said period, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government proposes to construct more godowns to meet the increased requirement during the ensuing seasons;

(e) if so, the details thereof indicating the targets fixed alongwith the steps taken to achieve the said targets, State-wise; and

(f) the present status of implementation of the order issued by the Supreme Court for distributing the excess stock of foodgrains to the poor free of cost instead of letting the same rot in the godowns?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)

(a): There are reports of some quantity of foodgrains accrued as non-issuable (damaged) during storage as reported by Food Corporation of India (FCI).

(b) & (c): Foodgrains during storage may get damaged/ become non-issuable due to various reasons such as storage pest attack, leakages in godowns, procurement of poor quality stocks, spillage during movement and handling of stocks, exposure to rains, floods, negligence on the part of concerned persons in taking precautionary measures etc. For safe and scientific storage of foodgrains in Covered and CAP storage, Ministry has issued instructions to all State Governments/UT Administration and Food Corporation of India from time to time to take required measures, recently reiterated on 19.12.2011 and 11.1.2012. These measures include continuous monitoring of quality of foodgrains during procurement, storage and distribution, to follow code of practices for safe storage in covered and CAP storage, to take all precautionary measures like prophylactic and curative treatment for insect pest control, regular periodic inspection of stocks to assess the quality etc. As a result of constant monitoring, the accrual of damaged foodgrains in FCI has shown a downward trend. Details of region-wise foodgrain stock accrued as non-issuable (damaged) for the last three years and the current year, as reported by FCI are at Annexure-I.

Details of wheat, rice and coarse cereals procured during last three years and the current year, State-wise are at Annexure-II, III and IV respectively.

The storage capacity, Covered and Cover and Plinth (CAP) available with the Food Corporation of India as on 31.01.2012 was about 335 lakh tons, both owned and hired. The state-wise details are at Annexure-V. The storage capacity with state agencies for storage of Central stock of foodgrains as on 31.03.2011 was 303 lakh tons including both covered and CAP capacity. The state-wise details are at Annexure-VI. Thus, a total quantity of 638 lakh tons of storage capacity was available for storage of Central stock of foodgrains against the Central stock of 544 lakh tons as on 1.03.2012.

(d) & (e): Due to the increased procurement of foodgrains and to reduce the storage under Cover and Plinth (CAP), the Government formulated a Scheme for construction of storage godowns through private entrepreneurs, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs).

Under the scheme, the Food Corporation of India would now give a guarantee of ten years for assured hiring to the private entrepreneurs . A capacity of about 151 lakh tons is to be created in 19 states under the scheme through private entrepreneurs and Central and State Warehousing Corporations. The state-wise details are at Annexure-VII. Out of this, tenders have been finalized for creation of storage capacity of about 89 lakh tons as on 15.02.2012 by the private entrepreneurs. CWC and SWCs are constructing 5.4 and 14.75 lakh tons respectively under the Scheme, out of which a capacity of about 5 lakh tons has already been completed by CWC/SWCs. As per the scheme guidelines, the time schedule for completion of godowns is one year, in case of non-railway siding godowns and two years for railway siding godowns. The Government has also finalised a plan for construction of 5.4 lakh tons of storage capacity in the North Eastern States. These capacities are expected to come up during the Twelfth Five Year Plan.

(f): Hon’ble Supreme Court in its order dated 14.5.2011 directed Union of India to reserve 5 million tons of foodgrains for distribution to 150 poorest districts or the extremely poor and vulnerable sections of our society. Further, the Hon’ble Supreme Court directed, inter-alia, that above quantity may be allocated to the poorest districts on the recommendations of the Committee headed by Justice D.P. Wadhwa, Retd Judge of the Supreme Court. Based on the aforementioned directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court and the recommendations of the said Committee, Government has allocated, during July to October 2011, a total quantity of 23.67 lakh tons of foodgrains for distribution in 174 poorest/ backward districts identified by the Committee in 27 states.