Union Minister Pralhad Joshi checks the quality of rice at the FCI food storage depot near Unkal in Hubballi on Friday.
Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi said: “Wastage of food grains in storage and transportation by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been brought down to 0.2% which was 1% earlier. Modern technology including portals and apps came in handy to achieve this.”
After inspecting the Food Corporation of India (FCI) food storage depot and divisional office near Unkal in Hubballi on Friday, he told reporters that surveillance and supervision to check the wastage of food grains during storage and transportation is being effectively done through ‘Depot Darpan’, and ‘Anna Chakra’ softwares.
Godowns with 1.74 lakh tonnes of storage capacity are being constructed on FCI lands with public-private-partnership (PPP), including a 13,000 tonne godown at Bammapur in Hubballi, he noted.
In the year 2024-25, 13,553 metric tonnes of food grains were issued from the godown here, while 6.08 lakh MT rice and 29,423 MT wheat stocks were issued for the beneficiaries of different schemes in neighbouring districts.
FCI officials informed that the state government is purchasing 2.42 lakh tonnes of rice every month from the FCI under ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme since February 2025, while 7,811 tonnes of rice have been provided to the state government for midday meal scheme in schools. Food grains are also being procured in the state, through the central government-backed minimum support price scheme for rice, ragi, jowar etc. Procurement can be increased if the process starts earlier, they added.
Delhi visit
“Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar went to New Delhi to meet AICC leader Rahul Gandhi regarding CM’s post and for their survival. Meeting Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was just for their show, and in fact, they were there to meet Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi not giving appointment shows how adamant the fake Gandhi family is, and what is the eligibility of Siddaramaiah,” Joshi critcised.We know what the internal agreement (regarding power sharing) is in Congress, and how severe is the infighting there. Either Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar is telling lie. Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge should give clarity, he said.
Karnataka has become a heaven for terrorists, and they feel those in power here are their friends and well-wishers, Joshi charged.
Joshi also said state BJP president would be elected through election process which the party always follows, while the leadership is observing the statements of all the leaders.