Question : IMPORT OF WHEAT

(a) whether the State Trading Corporation and the Food Corporation of India imported wheat from Australia and Canada;

(b) if so, the quantity of wheat imported by each of these Organisations from each of the country during the last three years alongwith the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the F.C.I. now wants to sell this imported wheat by floating open tender;

(d) if so, the details of profit/loss as a result thereof;

(e) whether the Government propose to get this matter probed by CBI and if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) the quantity of wheat which has deteriorated due to lax storage by Food Corporation of India; (g) the reaction of the Government thereto; (h) whether wheat imported under D.G.L. is cheaper; and (i) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION ( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )

(a) & (b) : The details of wheat imported by the State Trading Corporation of India on Government account during the last three years are as under:-

Years
Country
Quantity(in lakh tonnes)
1996-97
Australia
Canada
Argentina
Total
13.90

2.66
0.95
17.51
1997-98
Australia
10.18
1998-99
Australia
14.15
199-2000
Nil
Nil