(a) whether huge amount of money is due to Food Corporation of India (FCI) on account of food subsidy bill and the delay in subsidy payments is severly hampering the functioning of FCI;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken any steps for early clearance of the dues to FCI; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAOSAHEB PATIL DANVE)
(a) to (d): Based on audited accounts of Food Corporation of India (FCI) for the year 2012-13 and provisional claim for the year 2013-14, an amount of Rs.49698 crore was payable to FCI as arrears for these two years as on 01.04.2014. Accordingly, in the proposed Revised Estimates for the Financial Year 2014-15, Ministry of Finance has been requested to make an allocation of Rs.147730 crore so that arrears can be settled. The approved BE of 2014-15 for release of subsidy to FCI is Rs.92000 crore. In order to ensure that delay in payment of arrears does not hamper the procurement operations of FCI, several steps have been taken for ensuring availability of sufficient funds with FCI. Some of these steps are sanction of Cash Credit Limit, Ways and Means Advance, issue of bonds etc.