House panel recommends timely construction of more FCI godowns

THE Parliamentary Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, led by DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, has recommended measures to enhance the storage capacity of the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

- JITENDRA CHOUBEY @New Delhi

These include plans to construct dedicated godowns and conduct a study on the cost-effectiveness of FCI's own storage compared to hired facilities.

The FCI, a public undertaking, has failed to meet its target for constructing new godowns, relying instead on rented spaces from private parties. The panel has recommended conducting a detailed analysis to evaluate the expenses associated with rental liabilities for hired storage facilities versus the costs of maintaining own storage in the states.

"It will provide valuable insights into the true cost-effectiveness of FCI's storage strategy and enable informed decision-making regarding future investments in storage infrastructure," the report said.