Question : Evacuation of Rice

(a) whether the evacuation of rice by FCI in Odisha has been slow;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the quantum evacuated during the last one year along with the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government is taking any steps for speedy evacuation of rice from FCI depot thereby ensuing quick delivery of rice by rice millers in the State, if so, the details and outcome thereof;
(d) whether storage capacity for rice in Odisha is inadequate; and
(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to create more storage space in Odisha along with the assistance provided for the purpose during the last two years?

MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)
(a) & (b): No, Madam. During the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2014-15, a quantity of 33.48 Lakh Metric Ton (LMT) of rice was delivered in Central Pool. Out of the total rice delivered, State Government has received 17.38 LMT of Custom Milled Rice (CMR) and Food Corporation of India (FCI) has received 16.10 LMT of CMR.
Out of 16.10 LMT rice received by FCI, 14.33 LMT was moved out of the State and 1.75 LMT was issued to State Government under various Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).
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(c): Yes, Madam. The Government is evacuating rice from Odisha to facilitate delivery by rice millers. From October, 2014 till 23.02.2016, a quantity of 18.32 LMT of rice has been evacuated from Odisha to other States, thereby creating adequate space for accommodating fresh procured rice.
As on 01.02.2016, a total of 2.69 LMT of vacant space was available with FCI for rice receipt and being a Decentralized Procurement (DCP) State, the State Government keeps their requirement of foodgrains for Public Distribution System (PDS) in their own godowns.
(d) & (e): No, Madam. FCI has covered storage capacity of 5.51 LMT and State Agencies have covered storage capacity of 6.16 LMT i.e. total of 11.67 LMT capacity was available in the State as on 01.02.2016.
For further augmentation of storage capacity, construction of godowns for 3.70 LMT was sanctioned to Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), Odisha Central Warehousing Corporation (OCWC) and private investors under Private Entrepreneur Guarantee (PEG) Scheme out of which 2.84 LMT has already been completed upto 31.01.2016.
Apart from this 0.10 LMT capacity has also been constructed by FCI in the State of Odisha under 12th Five Year Plan during 2013-14.
Further, CWC has also constructed a capacity of 0.234 LMT in 2013-14, 0.065 LMT in 2014-15 and 0.10 LMT in 2015-16 with its own resources.
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