Efforts being taken to create additional foodgrain storage capacity: Minister

New Delhi, June 30 (ANI): Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prof. K V Thomas has said that his ministry has taken various initiatives to create additional foodgrain storage capacity in the country, including 152.97 lakh tonnes capacity in 19 states through private entrepreneurs and central and state warehousing corporations.

Talking to reporters here on Wednesday, Thomas said: "Steps had also been taken for the construction of godowns in the north-eastern region at a cost of Rs 568.17 crores to stock foodgrains and for speedy movement of foodgrains from procuring states to distribution centres."

According to him, wheat production this year had been at an all-time high of 842 lakh tonnes and wheat procurement was expected to touch a record 280 lakh tonnes.

He said the stock position of wheat and rice in the Central pool as on June 1 this year had reached an all time high level of 654.73 lakh tonnes, including 378.32 lakh tonnes of wheat and 276.41 lakh tonnes of rice. This was against a buffer norm requirement of 319 lakh tonnes as on July 1.

Thomas said that, against this, the total storage capacity in the country added upto 623.65 lakh tonnes, including 445.96 lakh tonnes of covered capacity. Out of this, 328.15 lakh tonnes was with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), including 294.77 lakh tonnes of covred capacity.

He said that, due to the current high level of stocks of food grains in the Central pool, in addition to normal annual allocations of foodgrains under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other welfare schemes, the Government has allocated an additional quantity of 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families in May and another 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for Above Poverty Line (APL) families in June.

Another 50 lakh tonnes of foodgrains will be allocated shortly for 150 poorer districts, as mandated by the Supreme Court, modalities of which are being worked out, he said.

Thomas said the Centre has also been continuously monitoring the lifting by State Governments and is also considering six months' lump-sum allocation at a time for distribution to the targeted groups. (ANI)