Food Corporation
Of India will be creating additional storage capacity of about
17500 MTs. in Bihar immediately. An assurance to this effect was
given by Shri Sharad Yadav, Union Minister of Consumer Affairs,
Food and Public Distribution to the Bihar Minister of Food and
Civil Supplies, Shri Puran Masi Ram when the Bihar minister called
on him here today. The storage capacity that would thus be taken
over by FCI for operations from CWC on hire are located at Sitamarhi
with a capacity of 4000 MT, Tilrath,, Raxaul and Betia each with
a capacity of 3000 MTs.; Begusarai with 2000 MT capacity; Jahanabad
(Magdumbur) with 1500 MT and Orangabad with 1000 MTs. Capacity.
In addition, storage capacity will be created by FCI in four more
locations, namely, Siwan, Gopalganj, Warasaliganj, and Azwal shortly.
Under the seven year
guarantee scheme for construction of godowns the Government of
Bihar was sanctioned 3 lakh MTs additional storage capacity. The
location for creation of this additional capacity has been finalised
in consultation with the State and Central Warehousing Corporations.
FCI in collaboration
with the State Government has identified 89 centres for procurement
in Bihar out of the targeted 100 centres. Of these, 41 centres
have already been opened and the remaining 59 will be opened by
December 15. As on November 1, 2002, FCI has a total stock of
2.06 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in Bihar comprising 1.08 lakh tonnes
of wheat and 98000 tonnes of rice.
