MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a) & (b) The damage to foodgrains in the godowns of Food Corporation of India (FCI) has shown a decreasing trend.
The foodgrains accrued as damaged against offtake has reduced from 0.106 in 2007-08 to 0.004 in 2012-13 (upto 01.01.2013). The theft of foodgrains from the godowns of FCI has also been kept under check.
The storage capacity, Covered and Cover & Plinth (CAP) available with the FCI is 376.19 lakh MTs as on 31.12.2012.
The storage capacities, both covered and CAP, available with State agencies for storage of Central Stock of foodgrains
is about 341.35 lakh MTs. As a result, a total of about 718.00 lakh MTs of storage capacity was available for storage
of Central stock of foodgrains which stood at 662.00 lakh MTs as on 31.1.2013. The State-wise details of production
and procurement of Wheat and Rice in the last three years is at Annexure-I and II respectively.The quantity of foodgrains stored in the godowns of FCI and CAP as on 31st March in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 and the current year as on 31.01.2013 is at Annexures III, IV, V and VI respectively. There has been no import of Rice and Wheat from the Central Pool stocks during the last three years. However, the quantity of Wheat and Rice exported in the last three years and upto 08-02-2013
is as under:-
Year Non-Basmati Rice Wheat (Quantity in tonnes) (Quantity in tonnes)
2009-10 1,39,544 30
2010-11 1,00,683 396
2011-12 40,99,000 7,41,188
2012-13 (1-4-2012 55,06,601.84 41,55,045.63
to 8-2-2013)
The quantum of foodgrains damaged state-wise in the last three years and the current year is at Annexures VII, VIII, IX and
X The state-wise details of theft cases of foodgrains from FCI godowns in the last three years and the current year are at Annexures XI, XII, XIII and XIV.
(c) All precautions are taken by FCI to preserve the quality of foodgrains stored with them. Prophylactic and curative measures are carried out regularly for the control of insects/pests. Effective rodent control measures are also undertaken. Regular quality checks are conducted to ensure proper preservation of foodgrains in storage. Adequate dunnage is provided
for the foodgrain stocks stored in CAP. The dunnage material is cleaned and disinfected. To protect the CAP stocks from rain, sun, etc. each stack is covered with a polythene cover. The poylthene covers are tied with nylon ropes. Wheat stocks stored in CAP by the State Govts/Agencies are subjected to joint inspection on a regular basis by officers of FCI and the concerned State Govts/Agencies. Stocks are generally issued on the principle of “First in First Out†(FIFO).
To prevent the theft the following steps are taken by FCI:
(1) Installation of barbed wires fencing of boundary walls, provisions of lights in the godowns/complexes and proper locking of the sheds
(2) Security staffs and Special Police officers are deployed for safety of stocks.
(3) Deployment of State Armed Police has been done at vulnerable depots/godowns.
