No FCI godown used for storing liquor: Thomas

No godown of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) is being used for storing liquor and stringent action would be taken in case such a matter was detected, Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.

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“Not a single godown of FCI is giving space to anybody to store any product other that foodgrains. If any information is given about storing liquor stringent possible action will be taken,” Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution KV Thomas said.

Replying to a supplementary to a Short Notice Question, Thomas said central warehouses might be providing storage facilities to items other than foodgrains.

He asked members to bring it to his notice if liquor was stored in FCI godowns.

To make the system transparent, advisory committees have been constituted in every state, chaired by senior most MP, he said.

On insufficient storage facilities in FCI godowns, he said, “The storage capacity available is more than sufficient for storing central food stocks.”

Sometimes, due to increased arrival of grains during the peak of the procurement season, the Covered and Plinth (CAP) storage is resorted to as a temporary measure, he said, adding all precautions are taken to ensure that there is no wastage of foodgrains on account of rains.

The total storage capacity available for storage of Central Food Stocks as on December 31, 2013 is 755.89 lakh tonnes, he said, adding the total food stocks on December 31, 2013 was 427.45 lakh tonnes.

The total requirement of foodgrains for implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) is estimated to be 612 lakh tonnes and the available storage capacity is more than what is required to stock foodgrains for implementing the NSFA.