Government has said it is taking steps to expand additional food grain storage facilities in the country. Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs K.V. Thomas said this while addressing a national workshop on Best Practices in Targeted Public Distribution System, TPDS and Food Fortification in New Delhi today.

Mr. Thomas said storage capacity of about 64 million tonnes is currently available with Food Corporation of India, FCI and additional capacity of 15.2 million tons is being created under the Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee scheme through private entrepreneurs, and Central and State Warehousing Corporations.

He said out of this 2.8 million tonnes capacity has already been constructed up to March, 2012 and another about 5.2 million tonnes is likely to be completed by 2012-13, and the balance by 2013-14. The minister said that has also approved creation of a capacity of 2.0 million tons in silos. In North Eastern States, Centre has finalized a scheme for creation of total storage capacity of 5.40 lakh tonnes.