Rural Development, HRD, External Affair ministries owe FCI Rs 3,443 crore

NEW DELHI: Ministries of Rural Development, Human Resource Development and External Affairs owed Rs 3,443 crore to Food Corporation of India ( FCI) as on June 30, 2012, Parliament was informed today.

The amount was due against the supply of foodgrains by the FCI under welfare schemes of these ministries, Food Minister KV Thomas said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

FCI is the government's nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains through public distribution system ( PDS) and other welfare schemes.

The Ministry of Rural Development owed Rs 2,890.82 crore to FCI as on June 30, while ministries of HRD and External Affairs were required to pay Rs 423.97 crore and Rs 128.26 crore, respectively.

"The matter of outstanding dues against the Ministry of Rural Development have been regularly pursued by this department at the various levels," Thomas said, adding that the dues against the HRD ministries were of regular nature.

In case of External Affairs Ministry, Thomas said Rs 80.78 crore has been realised in July after regular persuasion.

The Minister informed FCI has submitted final claim of food subsidy for 2010-11 amounting to Rs 10,935.79 crore.

The government releases food subsidy to FCI for the subsidised foodgrains distributed under PDS and other welfare schemes as well as to maintain buffer stock.

Explaining the process of subsidy disbursal, Thomas said the government releases 95 per cent of the FCI's claim on provisional basis and the balance five per cent subsidy is released on receipt of final claim from FCI after the accounts for the respective years are audited.