(a) the total shortage of storage space in the country;
(b) the total storage capacity hired and de-hired by the Food Corporation
of India (FCI) during the last three years; and
(c) the total storage capacity addition made through the Public Private
Partnership during the said period, Statewise?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): The storage capacity, Covered and Cover and Plinth (CAP) available with
the Food Corporation of India as on 01.04.2012 was 336.04 lakh MTs, both owned
and hired. The storage capacity with state agencies for storage of Central stock
of foodgrains as on 31.03.2011 was about 291 lakh tonnes including both covered
and CAP capacity. Thus, a total quantity of about 627 lakh tonnes of storage
capacity was available for storage of Central stock of foodgrains against the
Central stock of 527 lakh tonnes as on 1.04.2012. Due to the increased procurement
of foodgrains and to reduce the storage under Cover and Plinth (CAP), the Government
formulated a Scheme for construction of storage godowns through private
entrepreneurs, Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) and State Warehousing
Corporations (SWCs). Assessment of additional storage needs under the scheme
is based on the overall procurement/consumption and the storage space already
available. For the consuming areas, storage capacity is to be created to meet
four months requirement of PDS and other Welfare Schemes in a State. For the
procurement areas, the highest stock levels in the last three years are considered
to decide the storage capacity required.
Based on this analysis and criteria laid down in the scheme, a capacity of 151.96
lakh tonnes was identified to be created in 19 States.
(b): The details of the storage capacity hired and de-hired by the Food Corporation
of India (FCI) during the last three years , State-wise is at Annexure-I.
(c): The State-wise details of the total storage capacity addition made under the
Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee (PEG) Scheme of FCI through the Public Private
Partnership (PPP) mode are given in the statement at Annexure II.