Punjab sees significant foodgrain wastage, over 8,190 MT

Foodgrain wastage in Punjab has risen sharply, raising concerns about management at Food Corporation of India (FCI) facilities. From 2019 to 2024, more than 8,190 metric tonnes of foodgrain were reported damaged. This issue highlights the need for improved storage and stricter oversight. Punjab's total storage capacity is 174 lakh metric tonnes (LMT). This includes 124 LMT owned by FCI and 49 LMT managed by state agencies. The latest data shows a concerning trend in foodgrain losses. Wastage grew from 56 MT in 2019-20 to an alarming 7,746 MT in 2023-24. Ropar was the worst affected district in 2023-24, with 2,681 MT wasted, including both wheat and rice. Bathinda and Morinda also reported significant losses of 1,753.76 MT and 1,130.93 MT, respectively. In neighboring Haryana, 2,797 MT of foodgrains were damaged, primarily in Hisar. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs attributes the damage to natural disasters like floods and heavy rains. They state that only a small portion of food grains become unusable. To address this, FCI set up Damage Monitoring Cells to track and investigate losses. Despite these measures, action has only been taken in one case of negligence in Punjab. This situation raises concerns about accountability and the effectiveness of the monitoring system in preventing future wastage.