Question : Storage of Wheat

(a) the targets fixed for procurement of foodgrains during the ensuing season along with the arrangements made for their storage, State-wise;
(b) whether there is a lack of state-ofthe-art godowns in the country and the traditional methods are being used for storage even now leading to loss of foodgrains, if so, the details thereof along with the corrective action taken thereon;
(c) the funds allocated for constructing godowns during the last three years and the current year;
(d) whether steps have been taken by the Government to construct more godowns including state-of-the-art godowns in various States; and
(e) if so, the details thereof indicating the funds allocated and targets fixed for construction of such godowns, State-wise?

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION DY. NO.*24 DUE FOR ANSWER ON 26.04.2016 IN THE LOK SABHA
(a): The targets fixed notionally for procurement of wheat and rice during the ensuing season is 350 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) for rice during Kharif (2015-16) and 305 LMT for wheat during Rabi Season (2016-17). State-wise breakup is at Annexure-I. The peak requirement of storage capacity during procurement season is around 600 Lakh MT. Against this, the total storage capacity available with FCI & State agencies as on 01.04.2016 is 814.84 Lakh MT (FCI – 357.89 LMT & State agencies – 456.95 LMT). The State wise details are at Annexure-II. Thus, sufficient storage capacity is available for storage of foodgrains procured for central pool during the ensuing season.
(b): No Madam. The food grains are stored mainly in scientifically constructed godowns. However, during peak procurement season, a part quantity of foodgrain procured is stored in Cover and Plinth (CAP) which is also a scientific method for storage for short durations.
(c): Under Plan Scheme, year-wise amounts released/allocated for construction of godowns and capacity added are as below:
Sl. No.
Year
Amount
(Rs. Crore)
Capacity Added (MT)
1
2012-13
33.28
2,910
2
2013-14
3.00
22,500
3
2014-15
91.84
43,480
4
2015-16
79.31
64,810
5
2016-17
52.00
NIL
Total
259.43
1,33,700
(d) and (e): Tenders for 2.5 LMT of modern steel silos for bulk storage of wheat in PPP mode have been finalized by FCI. The State-wise details are as below:
Sl. No.
Location
State
Capacity (MT)
1.
Katihar
Bihar
50,000
2.
Whitefield
Karnataka
25,000
3.
Kotkapura
Punjab
25,000
4.
Narela
Delhi
50,000
5.
Sahnewal
Punjab
50,000
6.
Changsari
Assam
50,000
Total Capacity
2,50,000
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