No space in godowns to store wheat

BHUBANESWAR: With storage space in the warehouses shrinking alarmingly, the State Government has requested the Food Corporation of India (FCI) not to send further stock of wheat to Orissa.As rabi procurement has already started in the rice belt, the State may not be able to store further stock of wheat. Sambalpur, Bargarh, Kalahandi and Sonepur are expected to produce substantial rabi crop.In a letter to the FCI, the Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department said the FCI and the State warehouses are fast running out of space affecting supply of rice.Delivery of rice to the FCI central pool in Sambalpur and Bargarh districts is getting seriously affected since FCI warehouses and State procuring agencies are full to the brim.Of the 6.13 lakh tonne storage capacity available with the FCI in the State, at least 4.89 lakh tonne __ 80 per cent of the capacity __ have been used up for storage of wheat, rice and gunnies. So far, at least 2.79 lakh tonne wheat, which is equivalent to eight months allotment, has already been stored in the godowns.In the letter, Commissioner-cum-Secretary R K Sharma stated that the situation is such that it necessitates immediate evacuation of rice from Sambalpur and Bargarh districts to make space for delivery of rice and create more space for rabi paddy during the season.“In view of the onset of monsoon by June second week, the entire rabi paddy is expected to arrive in the markets by the first fortnight,” the letter stated.The State Government said procurement of paddy amounting to 19 lakh tonne has already been made during the current kharif marketing season and another 6 lakh tonne will be procured during the rabi season. Surplus rice in the State is expected to be to the tune of 4 lakh tonne during kharif and it would require outward movement from the State given the prevailing situation.With delivery of rice already picking up speed, further induction of wheat is likely to pose serious storage crisis. To ensure smooth procurement of paddy, Sharma said, wheat should not be stored in FCI godowns of the State.