The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation has approached the State Government to take urgent steps for the allotment of better storage facilities because of the acute shortage of space to store essential agricultural commodities.

Though the State Government has sanctioned the FBF (food benefit fund) godowns at Aluva, Parakkode and Thalassery, which are now occupied by State Warehousing Corporation, none of them has been handed over to Supplyco despite several high level meetings. These godowns are essential to meet the company's storage requirements as part of the company's market intervention operations and considering the acute shortage of storage space for essential commodities, sources in the Supplyco told Business Line .

According to sources, the State Warehousing Corporation authorities are not relieving godowns to Supplyco even after mutual discussions held by senior officials of both the corporations. The godowns owned by SWC are built with the objective of storing agricultural products to avoid storage loss and to meet the States storage needs.

Disputing the claims made by SWC officials that these godowns are being used for storing foreign liquor, the sources pointed out such items requires no scientific preservation facilities and can be stored in kacha godowns. The Warehousing Corporation Act, however, had envisaged that the godowns should be used for storing agricultural commodities.

The misuse of the national storage capacity for other uses will be a criminal wastage especially at a time when the Government agencies including Supplyco and FCI are in look out for more storage space to save the grains produced, the sources added.

Rising customer base

When contacted Mr Yogesh Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, Supplyco, admitted that the company is looking for more storage space to meet its day to day needs in view of the increase in the customer base in outlets, which stood at 1.25 crore as on today against 56 lakh in 2006. At present, the company is having a storage capacity of over 5 lakh sq ft in various parts of the State which comprises godowns hired from State Warehousing Corporation as well as from private agencies. However, majority of these godowns are not scientific and unsuitable for food grain storage.

The total requirement of storage space this year is estimated at 6 lakh sq ft. As the capacity with State Warehouse is 2,02,000 sq ft, Supplyco requires an immediate capacity of two lakh sq ft. As the company is expanding its activities by opening more outlets with ultra modern shopping facilities, he said there is a need for additional storage space or godown facility, which is considered vital to save the grains produced. The company has also taken up a proposal to construct more godowns by acquiring land to cater to larger storage for increased sales subject to the approval of the State Government, he said.

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