Question : Shortage of Rakes

(a) whether there is an acute shortage of rakes for transportation of foodgrains from Punjab to other States leading to shortage of storage space in the State and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the procurement of wheat has been affected badly due to lack of storage space in the State, if so, the details thereof and corrective steps proposed in this regard; and
(c) present status of construction of modern silos, which were supposed to be constructed in various parts of the country including Punjab for storage of foodgrains in most scientific manner?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)
(a): No, Madam. There is no shortage of rakes for transportation of foodgrains from Punjab. The dispatching details of rakes during last six months are given below:
Month
Despatch of rakes
Jan’16
542
Feb’16
517
Mar’16
620
Apr’16
528
May’16
417
June’16
508
On an average every month about 16-17 LMT of foodgrains was moved out from Punjab.
There is no shortage of storage space in Punjab.
(b): No, Madam. Procurement of wheat has not been affected due to lack of storage space in the state of Punjab. During RMS 2016-17 procurement of wheat in Punjab was 106.45 LMT compared to 103.44 LMT during RMS 2015-16.
(c): Actions have been taken by Government of India/Food Corporation of India (FCI) for construction of silos in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. So far, tenders have been awarded for construction and operation of silos at six places for 2.5 lakh MT capacity. This includes two places in Punjab, namely Kotkapura (25,000 MT) and Sahnewal (50,000 MT).
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