CHANDIGARH: The Centre and Food Corporation of India has taken a major initiative to improve the storage capacity of foodgrains in Punjab and Haryana, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said today.

He said that while silos of 4 lakh metric tonne (LMT) are under construction in Punjab by FCI, more silos of 21 LMT in Punjab and 9.5 LMT in Haryana respectively are being proposed to be built by FCI and State Governments.

The minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution, said that the efficiency of food procuring agencies has also increased over the years thereby improving the management of food grains.

He apprised that in Punjab, 44 per cent of urban and 54 per cent of rural population have been covered under Public Distribution System while it is 29 per cent of urban and 71 per cent of rural population for the state of Haryana.

Speaking to reporters here after a meeting with the FCI officials, Paswan said that that the number of ration card holders in Punjab and Haryana is 35.26 lakh and 26.50 lakh respectively.

The Minister said that State of Punjab and Haryana procured 127 LMT and 87 LMT wheat respectively during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2017-18 against the production of 166 LMT and 117 LMT of wheat.

While elaborating on the procurement of paddy, Paswan said that during Kharif Marketing Season 2017-18, State of Punjab and Haryana procured 176 LMT and 59 LMT paddy against the production of 201 LMT and 67 LMT.

Punjab and Haryana also procured 118 LMT and 40 LMT rice against this procurement of paddy.

He said that 83 per cent beneficiaries ration cards with Aadhaar cards had been linked so far.

As many as 2.62 crore Ration cards have been found to be fake, which works out to nearly 14 crore beneficiaries, saving Rs 17,000 crore of the ex-chequer, he said.

