Question : Procurement Centre in Bihar

(a) the number of agricultural products procurement centres functioning in Bihar, district-wise and location-wise;

(b) the total value of agricultural products procured by these procurement centres at Minimum Support Price (MSP) during the last three years, district-wise;

(c) whether the Government has received any complaints with regard to corruption in the procurement centres during the last three years;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the corrective measures taken by the Government in the matter?

A N S W E R
THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND
PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a): Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD) extends price support for procurement of paddy and wheat for central pool which are procured by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and State Governments/State Government agencies. The paddy and wheat conforming to uniform specifications as prescribed by Government of India are procured at Minimum Support Price (MSP). Bihar is a Decentralized Procurement System (DCP) state, wherein procurement of paddy and wheat is carried out by State Government through its agencies.

District-wise Primary Agriculture Credit Societies (PACS) and Vyapar Mandal functioning during ongoing KMS 2021-22 for procurement of paddy is at Annexure-I (A) and Annexure -I(B) respectively.

(b): The value of procured paddy & wheat in Bihar during the last three years are at Annexure-II.

(c) to (e): The Government of India, as such, has not received any specific complaint regarding corruption pertaining to procurement centres functioning in Bihar during the last three years.

However, Government of Bihar has informed that complaints are received at their end regarding delayed purchase of paddy by PACS, late delivery of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) to the State Food Corporation (SFC) purchasing centres. All necessary action in terms of lodging FIR/declaring the society as defaulter etc. are initiated against them by the State Government. Further, district magistrates have been authorized to supervise all procurement operations.
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