‘180 lakh tonnes of foodgrains for Central pool lying in open in 4 states’

Somaiya said the during his interaction with senior FCI officials in Haryana,Punjab and Delhi last week,it came to light that 180 lakh tonnes of foodgrains were still lying in the open at various godowns in Haryana,Punjab and Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh,belonging to Government of India under the Central pool. Condition of these godowns and foodgrains is terrible,he added.

He said with a large amount of foodgrains were lying in the open,there was not much additional space left even as the procurement season for this year’s produce had already started. The government has rented godowns that would be able to accommodate one lakh tonne of foodgrains.

Somaiya further said that while the government had allowed wastage of Rs 58,000 crore worth foodgrains,infected foodgrains are being mixed and supplied to the poor through the PDS and liquor industry.

Recent case of distributing rotten foodgrains through PDS in Chandigarh came to light at Bapu Dham Colony,Sector 26. Area councillor Sarita Sharma along with other leaders had called the officials to the spot and the rotten foodgrain was withdrawn.

Somaiya said that while foodgrains are rotting in FCI godowns the prices of essential commodities are skyrocketing. “The government is trying to create artificial shortage due to which the prices are rising. We are seeking legal opinion on whether cases can be registered against FCI officials for wastage of foodgrains. The issue would be raised in the winter session of the Parliament,” he said.

The exhibition include photographs of various godowns and open plinths,used for storage of foodgrains by FCI. Samples of rotten foodgrains collected from various godowns and open plinths were also displayed.