The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) is proposing to set up five steel silos for storage of wheat in different parts of the country.
It has already sought the approval of Food Corporation of India for setting up these silos.
If approved, these silos would come up in Nabha (Punjab), Muzaffar Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), Kandhwa (Madhya Pradesh), Miraj (Maharashtra) and Rayanapadu (Andhra Pradesh). They will have a storage capacity of 50,000 tonnes each.
Talking to The Hindu , CWC Managing Director, B. B. Pattanaik, said: “We have sent our proposal, and are waiting for FCI’s reply. We do not know how long it will take. These will be in addition to FCI’s move for setting up silos with a storage capacity of 17.50 lakh tonnes under the Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee Scheme in over 35 locations. We are seeking business guarantee for 20 years.” According to him, silo had cost advantage as compared to conventional godown, facilitated easier grain movement, had no risk of pilferage, required less land, and ensured longer shelf life. Silos should be created in the hinterland with bulk handling and transportation facilities, he said.
Recently, FCI floated e-tenders inviting bids for setting up silos in 38 locations in 10 States. “As none of the private parties were found to be competent, we have cancelled the tender. Ultimately, we will be going in for creation of two million tonnes of storage capacity,” an FCI spokesman said.
CWC has registered a turnover of Rs.1,528 crore for 2013-14 against Rs.1,407 crore in the previous year . The company posted an operating income of Rs.1,430 crore and profit after tax of Rs.190 crore. It proposes to pay a dividend of 48 per cent (41 per cent paid). The above results were ratified by the board last month, Mr. Pattanaik said. During 2014-15, CWC plans to construct additional storage capacity of two lakh tonnes against 2.3 lakh tonnes constructed in the previous year.
Delivering the inaugural address at the seventh edition of international seminar on wheat and wheat products, M. S. Swaminathan, founder Chairman of M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, called for establishing 50 modern grain storages in different parts of the country with a capacity to store one million tonnes of foodgrains in a healthy condition.
