Foodgrains worth Rs 236 cr lost in Apr-June : K V Thomas

Says steps have been taken to ensure quantum of foodgrains lost/damaged at bare minimum level

The government has incurred a loss of Rs 236.32 crore till June this fiscal due to damage of FCI foodgrains in storage and transit, Parliament was informed today.

About 1,13,881 tonnes of foodgrains, valuing Rs 236.32 crore has been lost in transit, storage and due to theft, Food Minister K V Thomas said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

According to the data placed before the Lower House, the government has lost Rs 120.29 crore worth of foodgrains in storage, Rs 106.18 crore-worth of grain in transit, while the rest Rs 9.85 crore-worth of foodgrains were non-issuable.

Food Corporation of India (FCI) is the government's nodal agency that procures and distributes foodgrains.

Thomas said that considering large volume of procurement of foodgrains by FCI "some losses may occur during storage due to pilferage/ thefts, floods, during transportation and loss of moisture during prolonged storage".

However, steps have been taken to ensure the quantum of foodgrains lost/damaged at bare minimum level in spite of increase in procurement and stocks of FCI over the last three years, he said.

For minimising the loss of grains during storage, Thomas added remedial steps like foodgrains are to be stored ny adopting proper scientific code of storage practises.

In the reply Food Minister also noted that it has been mandated that only covered rail wagons are to be used for movement of foodgrains as to avoid damage during the transit.