Food Corporation of India to set up silos at Kochi, Kozhikode: Oommen Chandy

KOCHI: The Food Corporation of India will set up two 25,000-tonnes storage capacity silos at Kochi and Kozhikode for storage of foodgrains, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said today.

This would be set up in PPP mode with 25 per cent viability gap funding subject to Planning Commission's approval, he told reporters after a high level meeting here.

The Centralised Warehousing Corporation would set up a freight station on FACT land at nearby Eloor. At Purakkad in Alapuzha, a warehousing corporation godown would also be set up and its construction taken up under the 'Kuttanad package.'

When the Food Security Act comes through, each state would have to ensure 4.5 lakh tonnes storage capacity. Kerala has only 90,000 tonnes capacity, which has to be enhanced, Chandy said.

He also said rice and wheat allotment to BPL cardholders is sufficient, while for APL card holders it needs to be enhanced from the present 15 kg to 25 kg as nearly 1.5 lakh ration card holders had been added from April 2012-Jan 2013.

Union Minister for Consumer Affairs K V Thomas said the state's needs would be looked into. A special officer has been appointed to procure rice as per the preference of the people of Kerala, he said.