<p>New Delhi: Pulling up the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs for not meeting the godown construction target in the last four years, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has asked the government to constitute a high-level panel to expedite the work.</p><p>In the report on demand for grants for 2024-25 placed in Parliament, the Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, also expressed concern over the lack of progress made in the construction of godowns in the northeastern region.</p>.CCEA clears Rs 10,700-crore equity infusion for FCI.<p>Though reasons cited for slow pace of construction were delay in land acquisition from the state governments, harsh topographical conditions and inclement weather, the panel suggested the ministry to put in place better planning and management.</p><p>The report said that against the target of godown construction with 50,100-tonne capacity in 2023-24, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) could achieve only 1,760-tonne capacity, utilising Rs 52.75 crore.</p><p>For 2024-25, the target was to construct 58,540-tonne capacity, "but the achievement till September 30 has been nil", the report said.</p><p>FCI could not achieve the physical target of construction of godowns for 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 till September in the wake of the implementation of the National Food Security Act, it added.</p><p>On the construction of silos, the committee emphasised on the importance of ensuring the uniform distribution of these silos across the country, especially in wheat-consuming states, in a systematic and well-coordinated manner. The panel suggested the government to involve private enterprises to achieve the targets.</p><p>Silos with a capacity of 24.25 lakh tonne are under implementation at various locations throughout the country, out of which silos with a capacity of 17.75 lakh tonne have been completed and the remaining 6.5 lakh tonne are under various stages of development.</p><p>Observing that there are a large number of complaints regarding under-weighment by the fair price shop dealers, the committee suggested that the government should take steps to persuade the states to integrate all the electronic weigh-scale with every Electronic Point of Sale Device.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Pulling up the Ministry of Food and Consumer Affairs for not meeting the godown construction target in the last four years, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has asked the government to constitute a high-level panel to expedite the work.</p><p>In the report on demand for grants for 2024-25 placed in Parliament, the Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, also expressed concern over the lack of progress made in the construction of godowns in the northeastern region.</p>.CCEA clears Rs 10,700-crore equity infusion for FCI.<p>Though reasons cited for slow pace of construction were delay in land acquisition from the state governments, harsh topographical conditions and inclement weather, the panel suggested the ministry to put in place better planning and management.</p><p>The report said that against the target of godown construction with 50,100-tonne capacity in 2023-24, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) could achieve only 1,760-tonne capacity, utilising Rs 52.75 crore.</p><p>For 2024-25, the target was to construct 58,540-tonne capacity, "but the achievement till September 30 has been nil", the report said.</p><p>FCI could not achieve the physical target of construction of godowns for 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 till September in the wake of the implementation of the National Food Security Act, it added.</p><p>On the construction of silos, the committee emphasised on the importance of ensuring the uniform distribution of these silos across the country, especially in wheat-consuming states, in a systematic and well-coordinated manner. The panel suggested the government to involve private enterprises to achieve the targets.</p><p>Silos with a capacity of 24.25 lakh tonne are under implementation at various locations throughout the country, out of which silos with a capacity of 17.75 lakh tonne have been completed and the remaining 6.5 lakh tonne are under various stages of development.</p><p>Observing that there are a large number of complaints regarding under-weighment by the fair price shop dealers, the committee suggested that the government should take steps to persuade the states to integrate all the electronic weigh-scale with every Electronic Point of Sale Device.</p>
