Sufficient storage capacity for foodgrains

NEW DELHI: According to the information given by Ram Vilas Paswan,  Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution sufficient storage capacity is available for storage of Central Pool foodgrains. As on 30.06.2016, 816.24 Lakh MT storage capacity is available  against actual stocks of 495.95 Lakh MT . This information was given by the minister on Tuesday, 19 July in a written reply in Lok Sabha .

The Minister said that for the year 2015-16, budgetary allocation for construction of godowns was Rs. 80.00 cr. under Plan Scheme. For the year 2016-17, an allocation of Rs. 52.00 cr. has been made. This allocation is for construction of godowns only in the North Eastern States. The allocation is as per the requirement projected by Food Corporation of India (FCI) on the basis of land made available by the State Governments and status of the projects in the various states. The allocation is sufficient to meet the anticipated expenditure in various projects in 2016-17.

He said that the Government has approved a road map for construction of 100 Lakh MT silos across the country in a phased manner by 2019-20. The silos will be constructed by FCI and various state agencies in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode through private investors. Capacity of 4.5 Lakh MT has already been created in Madhya Pradesh and FCI has selected the silo operators for construction and operation of silos at 6 locations for 2.5 Lakh MT capacity.