New Delhi, October 02 2010: The Central Government has taken major initiatives to ensure continuous, regular and adequate supply of food grains to all the states in the North-east in view of the remoteness, inaccessibility, difficult terrain and special requirements of the region.

Considering requests of some of the states and the conditions prevailing in NE Region, the Government has increased APL allocation to 35 Kg per family per month to Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim w.e.f.August, 2010 while at present all the NE states are being allocated maximum foodgrains under TPDS at 35 Kg.

per family per month.

This information was provided by Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, according to a Press Information Bureau release.

A total additional allocation of 2.93 lakh tonne wheat and rice to this area has been given so that in every state the APL allocation reaches 35 Kg for every family in a month.

This has benefited some of the states specially Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya where earlier APL quota were respectively 19.9, 13.2 and 22.1 Kg per month only.

43000 tonne has been already lifted.

The State Governments are very happy with additional allocation made under APL and BPL, the Ministry noted.

Under open market sales scheme for sale by the state government to retail consumers a total of 3.38 LMT has been allocated out of which 1.08 lakh tonne has been lifted by state governments.

Now this scheme has been extended up to March 31, 2011 so that states may take full advantage of this.

In May 2010 the Ministry extended additional allocation of 1.25 lakh tonne of wheat and rice to all card holders at subsidized rates of Rs.8.45 per Kg and 11.85 per Kg respectively out which about 62500 MT has been lifted by state government.

It further mentioned that on September 7, BPL families were given an additional allocation of 1.08 lakh tonne which is to be lifted in 6 months.

In addition, 49,683 tonne wheat has been allocated to FCI for sale to traders and bulk consumers so that availability in market increases.

14300 tonne has been already lifted .

Thus a total of more than 9 lakhs tonne of foodgrain has been allotted to this region in last few months.

Acknowledging that NE Region has inadequate food grain storage facility which creates problems in ensuring regular supplies to the PDS system from time to time , the Ministry also noted that the present storage capacity of FCI in NE States is 4.58 lakh tonne, considered insufficient to meet PDS and OWS requirement.

Taking cognizance of this shortfall in the the Region, the Department has taken-up various schemes including ongoing construction of godowns in NE states under plan funds which are under different stage of progress.

However, taking into consideration specific difficulties of NE Region, the Department has made a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the construction of godowns totaling 5.25 lakhs tonnes at an estimated cost of Rs.568 crores for augmentation of storage capacity of food grains.

The State Governments should come forward to undertake the exercise of identifying suitable land in all the selected locations so that as soon as the scheme is approved by the Government of India, land may be made available to take up construction of godowns immediately, highlighted the Ministry.

Of the 5.25 lakh tonne of new capacity, 77,500 tonne is already under construction at various places including 50,000 tonne storage capacity at Changsari near Guwahati.

Government of India is undertaking construction of godowns under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) under the newly revised Scheme i.e.PEG, 2010 which would provide assured rental to the private entrepreneurs for a period of 10 years, the PIB release mentioned adding that entrepreneurs in the Region may come forward and join hands in augmenting storage capacity in NE by participating in this scheme.

Further conceding that there have been recent problem in the movement of foodgrains in NE Region due to transportation problems viz., non-cooperation by the transport contractors, landslides, blocking of Lumding rail line, agitations and road blocks in Manipur and some parts of NE Region, the Ministry asserted that it had been making maximum effort to resolve all these issues, which are specific to the regions and ensure timely supply of adequate food grain to the states in NE Region.

Expressing hope that these hindrances would be removed soon with tireless efforts and co-operation of one and all, the Ministry also stressed on greater co-ordination between FCI/ Railways and State Governments to ensure proper use of available resources.

Settlement of HTS claims should be streamlined with FCI which should have a standard check list for disposing the HTS claims, it prescribed.

It is also informed that Ministry and FCI officials are tasked to undertake regular tours in interior parts of the country.

Highlighting that PDS is the joint responsibility of the State and Centre, the Ministry suggested initiating massive reforms including use of technology to plug all the loopholes.

The States have also been advised to keep the house ready through massive reforms to implement the food security act.

FCI has introduced the system of on-line monitoring of stocks in all the godowns throughout the country, it added.

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