Offtake of foodgrains
from the central pool during first seven months ( April-October
) of the current financial year 2002-2003 was 266.94 lakh tonnes
as against the offtake of 139.21 lakh tonnes during the corresponding
period last year. This comprises 148.12 lakh tonnes of rice and
118.82 lakh tonnes of wheat as against 70.2 lakh tonnes of rice
and 69.01 lakh tonnes of wheat.
The stock of
rice and wheat in the central pool as on 1st December
2002 is 515.4 lakh tonnes comprising 202.68 lakh tonnes of rice
and 312.72 lakh tonnes of wheat. The stock position the previous
year was 591.03 lakh tonnes comprising 250.97 lakh tonnes of rice
and 340.06 lakh tonnes of wheat; a decrease of 76.08 lakh tonnes
in the stock of foodgrains.
A special additional
allocation of 200 tonnes of rice and 700 tonnes of wheat was given
free of cost to the Government of Gujarat in November 2002 for
distribution in relief camps set up for riot affected families
in the state. So far, Gujarat has been extended a special additional
allocation of 1713 tonnes of rice and 7052 tonnes of wheat free
of cost for distribution in relief camps.
As on November
30, 2002, a quantity of 167.64 lakh tonnes of foodgrains have
been lifted for export and 189.79 lakh tonnes of foodgrains has
been paid for.
