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Title: Need for adequate allocation of wheat to eastern and southern states of the country.
SHRI B. MAHTAB (CUTTACK): Madam Chairperson, I am raising a matter which relates to drastic reduction of allocation of wheat to Eastern and Southern States of the country.
One fails to understand why the Government of India has reduced the allocation of wheat drastically to a number of States, especially the Eastern and Southern States of our country. These States are not wheat growing States, but there are a large number of wheat consumers. That is why wheat is being provided to all BPL and APL cardholders.
But since June this year the allocation has been slashed by less than half the quantity that was provided to the States earlier. In the case of Orissa, during July 2002 upto July 2005 around 30,000 MT of wheat was being provided every month, but it came down to 24,402 MT per month in April and May 2006. I do not understand what compelled the Government to reduce the allocation further down to 7793 MT per month since June 2006. After much persuasion, though some additional allocation of few thousand MT of wheat is being released, it is not substantial to meet the demand. When the price of wheat in the open market is very high and the allocation of wheat to fair price shops is inadequate, it has become pertinent to enhance the allocation of wheat to at least to the pre-revision level, that was prevalent during April-May 2006. I would suggest that in case of Orissa, 24,000 MT of wheat be provided per month. This will stabilize the market and meet the demand of wheat in the State. Thank you.