NEW DELHI, Dec 16: A Parliamentary Panel has admonished the government for failing to meet its godown construction goals over the past four years, as of September 2024, and has urged the relevant ministry to establish a high-level committee to accelerate progress, particularly in the northeastern and hilly states.
In its sixth report regarding the demand for grants for 2024-25 submitted to Parliament, the Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution noted that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was tasked with constructing godowns with a capacity of 50,100 tonnes for 2023-24 but could only complete 1,760 tonnes, despite spending Rs 52.75 crore.
For the fiscal year 2024-25, the goal was to build godowns with a capacity of 58,540 tonnes; however, as of September 30, no progress has been reported, the committee stated.
The FCI has not met its construction targets for the years 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, primarily due to the implementation challenges associated with the National Food Security Act.
The committee also expressed its dismay over the slow progress in constructing godowns in the northeast, pointing out that obstacles such as land acquisition delays, challenging terrain, and adverse weather conditions are longstanding issues that should have been better planned for.
“Planning should have taken the realities of the northeast and hilly regions into account, leading to a more effective implementation strategy,” the report emphasized.
It recommended that the government form a high-level panel that includes state officials to tackle these challenges more effectively, expedite progress, and meet the construction targets.
Regarding the construction of silos, the committee highlighted the need for an equitable distribution of these facilities across the nation, particularly in wheat-producing states, executed in a systematic and coordinated fashion.
Timely completion of silo construction is essential. Furthermore, the government should actively encourage private sector participation in order to meet set targets and enhance the efficiency of silo operations, as indicated in the report.
Currently, silos with a total capacity of 24.25 lakh tonnes are being developed at various sites across the country, with 17.75 lakh tonnes already completed and an additional 6.5 lakh tonnes at various stages of construction.
Noting numerous complaints regarding under-weighing by fair price shop dealers, the committee urged the government to take necessary actions to persuade states to integrate all electronic weighing scales with Electronic Point of Sale devices. (PTI)
