(a) whether foodgrains are stored under separate categories in the warehouses
operated by the Food Corporation of India (FCI);
(b) if so, the details thereof including the major categories and
foodgrains stored under them during the past three years; and
(c) the amount of foodgrains discarded by the FCI during the said
period alongwith the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a)& (b): Yes, Madam. All the foodgrains procured by Food Corporation of
India (FCI) is categorised during storage in A, B, C & D categories based on
weevilled (insect eaten) grains in respect of wheat & paddy and based on
damaged/discoloured grains in respect of rice. Foodgrains procured under relaxed
specifications as well as stock declared as non-issuable/ damaged is also stored
separately. A statement indicating category-wise & commodity-wise stock position as
on 01.04.2009, 01.04.2010, 01.04.2011 & 01.02.2012 is at Annexure-I.
(c): As reported by FCI, details of foodgrains accrued as damaged in FCI
during the last three years (upto Jan’2012) are at Annexure-II.
Foodgrains may get damaged due to various reasons such as storage pest attack,
leakages in godowns, procurement of poor quality stocks, spillage during movement
and handling of stocks, exposure to rains, floods, negligence on the part of
concerned persons in taking precautionary measures etc. In case of negligence
of officials/ officers, FCI takes disciplinary action against defaulters,
wherever found guilty.