Question : SHORTAGE OF RAIL WAGON FOR FCI

(a) whether FCI is facing acute shortage of Rail wagons to transport rice from its godowns;

(b) if so, whether this has resulted in piling-up of stocks at different rice mills in the country especially in East Godavari district;

(c) if so, whether FCI had targetted procuring levy rice of seven lakh tonnes whereas procured about two lakh tonees only;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor;

(e) whether about 20,000 tonnes of rice stocks has also been piled-up at different mills in the Rajahmundry district; and

(f) if so, the total rice procured by the FCI from Andhra Pradesh?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

( SHRI SRIRAM CHAUHAN )

(a) & (b) : No, Sir.

(c) & (d) : No targets are fixed by FCI. However, against an estimate of 7 lakh tonnes for East Godawari District of Andhra Pradesh, FCI had procured 9.16 lakh tonnes of levy rice, which is 2.16 lakh tonnes more than expected.

(e) No such complaints have been received from the Millers.

(f) The total rice procured by FCI during the year 1999-2000 in AP is 38.97 lakh MTs.