FCI has enough food stocks for this year: Ramvilas Paswan

Union Food Minister Ramvilas Paswan today assured that the Food Corporation of India has enough stock of foodgrains to meet the requirement for this year despite drought situation in some states.
"Nearly 600 lakh tonne of food grains are available against the requirement of 549 in the country," Paswan told reporters here.
He said that the FCI is also creating a buffer stock of pulses under which a stock of 2 lakh tonne will be available.
"50,000 tonne of pulses have already been procured and 25,000 tonne will be imported. State governments have also been asked to inform us about the requirement of pulses in their states so that we can address their demands," he said.

The minister said that the Centre has asked the state governments to check hoarding and to inform the centre about the requirement of pulses.
He said that there will be a requirement of 235 lakh tonne pulses and the production is likely to be around 170 lakh tonne.

Pawan, who is also the Consumer Affairs minister, also expressed concern over the quality of water made available to the public and said there should be strict norms about the quality and standard of water.
"A standard should be fixed for potable water. It should be made mandatory that be it the state government or a seller, standard of water should not be compromised," he said.

He said that in the new consumer protection bill, provisions have been made to deal more effectively with consumer issues like pricing and disputes related with product, their quality and advertisements.
In the context of Rajasthan, where he reviewed the work of his department, the minister said that adequate storage and procurement arrangements are available with the FCI in the state.
He informed that tentative procurement of 18 lakh metric ton is estimated this year for which adequate arrangements have been made by the FCI.