(a) whether there is a difference in the rate of foodgrain storage by the Central
Warehousing Corporation and the State Warehousing Corporations;
(b) if so, whether any plan has been formulated to remove the said difference; and
(c) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): In so far as the storage charges payable by Food Corporation of India (FCI) to Central
Warehousing Corporation(CWC) is concerned, these are fixed on the basis of recommendations of
the Chief Advisor (Cost), Ministry of Finance for the stocks kept under yearly reservations.
These rates are also extended to State Warehousing Corporations(SWCs) where the godowns are
at par in service, specifications and preservation of stocks with that of CWC, after due
verification by FCI. Hence, there is no difference in rates of foodgrains storage by CWC
and SWCs.
(b) & (c): As the State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs) function under the administrative
control of the respective State Government, they fix their own tariff taking into consideration
various parameters like cost of construction, establishment cost, operational cost, godown rent,
and other factors. The Central Government has no role to play in the fixation of tariff of SWCs.