How to File RTI with CWC — Warehouse Storage, Charges, and Tender Records

The Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) is a statutory corporation established under the Warehousing Corporations Act, 1962, operating under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. CWC manages a network of over 400 warehouses spread across the country, with a combined storage capacity of several million metric tonnes. It provides scientific storage for agricultural produce, industrial goods, and imported cargo, and is also an accredited warehouse service provider under the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) for the issuance of Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs). Because CWC is a Central Government statutory body that handles large volumes of public and private commodities, awards significant contracts for warehouse operations, security, fumigation, and handling, and administers storage charges affecting farmers and traders alike, it is fully subject to the Right to Information Act, 2005.

An important distinction: CWC is a Central Government body and RTI second appeals go to the Central Information Commission (CIC). This is different from State Warehousing Corporations (SWCs), which are set up by individual state governments under the same 1962 Act — RTI second appeals for SWC matters go to the relevant State Information Commission (SIC) of that state.

This guide explains what you can obtain from CWC through RTI, which office to file with, and how to pursue appeals if the response is unsatisfactory.

What Can You Achieve with an RTI to CWC?

An RTI filed with CWC can be used to:

• Obtain warehouse capacity and occupancy data: Find out the total storage capacity and current utilisation rate at any CWC warehouse in a specific district or state — information useful for farmers, agri-businesses, and policy researchers tracking cold chain and storage infrastructure.
• Verify storage charge schedules: Confirm the officially applicable rent per metric tonne per month at CWC warehouses and obtain copies of circulars or orders revising those charges. If you were billed at a higher rate than the published schedule, the RTI will surface the discrepancy.
• Examine tender award records: Obtain the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT), comparative statement of bids, evaluation criteria, and the final award order for contracts related to warehouse operations, security services, handling and transportation, or pest control. This is essential for scrutinising public procurement and identifying irregularities in contractor selection.
• Access fumigation and pest control records: Verify the frequency of fumigation treatments at a named warehouse, the agency engaged, the chemicals used, and any quality inspection reports — relevant for traders whose commodities may have been damaged by pests or improper chemical treatment.
• Understand the Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) policy: Obtain the eligibility criteria for NWR issuance, the collateral management arrangements CWC has in place, the list of eligible commodities, and the procedure for availing credit against NWRs. NWRs are a critical post-harvest finance instrument for farmers and agri-businesses.
• Track depositor complaints and their resolution: Find out how many complaints have been filed against a CWC regional office or warehouse and how many remain unresolved — a useful indicator of systemic service problems.
• Audit FCI grain stock at CWC facilities: CWC frequently stores FCI (Food Corporation of India) grain stocks. RTI can be used to verify the quantity and condition of FCI-owned grain held at CWC warehouses, cross-referencing this with FCI's own disclosures.

Where to File: The Right Authority

CWC has a three-tier structure:

1. Head Office (New Delhi): Handles national policy, NWR scheme administration, overall storage capacity statistics, major tender awards, and matters spanning multiple regional offices. The CPIO is located at 4/1 Siri Institutional Area, Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016.
2. Regional Offices: CWC maintains Regional Offices across the country that oversee warehouse operations within their territorial jurisdiction. Regional Offices hold records for storage charges, tender awards, fumigation contracts, and occupancy data within their region.
3. Individual Warehouses (Field Level): Field-level warehouses maintain day-to-day records including depositor receipts, stock registers, weighment records, and fumigation logs.

Which office to approach:

• For queries about a specific warehouse (capacity, occupancy, fumigation records, depositor complaints) — file with the CPIO of the relevant Regional Office that oversees that warehouse.
• For tender award records relating to a regional or national contract — file with the CPIO of the office that awarded the contract (Regional or Head Office, depending on the value and scope of the contract).
• For NWR policy, national storage statistics, or matters spanning multiple regions — file with the CPIO at CWC Head Office.

How to find the right CPIO on rtionline.gov.in:

1. Go to rtionline.gov.in and click "Submit Request".
2. From the Ministry dropdown, select Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
3. From the Department/Public Authority dropdown, select the relevant CWC office (Head Office or named Regional Office).
4. If you are unsure which Regional Office is responsible, select CWC Head Office. Under Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, the CPIO must transfer your application to the correct office within five days and notify you accordingly.

How to File: Step by Step

Step 1: Identify the Right CWC Office

Before drafting your application, identify which CWC office or warehouse is relevant to your query. Note the warehouse name, district, and Regional Office jurisdiction if you know it. For tender-related queries, note the tender reference number or the approximate date and scope of the tender if you have that information.

Step 2: Gather Your Reference Details

Collect any reference information you have before drafting the application:

• Name of the CWC warehouse and its location (district, state)
• Period of inquiry (specific months, years, or procurement seasons)
• Your depositor account number, receipt number, or contract reference (if applicable)
• Any previous correspondence with CWC and its reference numbers

Specific references make it harder for the CPIO to claim that the information is not identifiable or traceable.

Step 3: Draft Your Application

Write each question as a distinct numbered point. Be specific about the warehouse name, the period, and the type of document or data you need. Avoid broad requests such as "all records about warehouse operations" — instead ask for the specific document (e.g., the comparative statement of bids for Tender No. X, or the fumigation log for Warehouse Y during January–March 2025). Use the sample draft provided above as a starting template.

Step 4: File on the RTI Online Portal

Visit rtionline.gov.in and complete the online form:

• Select Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
• Select Public Authority: the relevant CWC office
• Paste or type your application text in the provided field
• Pay the ₹10 fee online (debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI)
• Save the registration number shown after submission — this is your tracking reference

BPL cardholders are exempt from the ₹10 fee. Upload a copy of your BPL card when filing.

Step 5: Track and Follow Up

You can check the status of your application at any time on rtionline.gov.in using your registration number. The CPIO must respond within 30 days of receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act, 2005). If the information relates to the life or liberty of a person, the response must be provided within 48 hours.

If you do not receive a response within 30 days, or receive an incomplete or evasive reply, you are entitled to file a First Appeal.

Step 6: First and Second Appeal

First Appeal — to the First Appellate Authority (FAA) within CWC:

If the CPIO denies information, provides an incomplete response, or fails to respond within 30 days, you may file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act, 2005. The First Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The First Appellate Authority is a senior officer designated within CWC above the rank of the CPIO. On rtionline.gov.in, the First Appeal option becomes available once the response period has elapsed or a response has been received.

Second Appeal — to the Central Information Commission (CIC):

CWC is a Central Government body. If the First Appeal is also unsatisfactory or goes unanswered, you may file a Second Appeal before the Central Information Commission (CIC) under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act, 2005. The CIC has the authority to direct disclosure of information and to impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the CPIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act if the refusal was without reasonable cause or the information was malafidely withheld. Second Appeals to the CIC can be filed online at cic.gov.in.

Note: Do not file a Second Appeal with a State Information Commission for CWC matters. SICs have jurisdiction only over state public authorities — CWC, being a Central Government statutory corporation, falls exclusively under the CIC.

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

When filing RTI with CWC, you can legitimately request any of the following:

1. Warehouse capacity and occupancy data: Total storage capacity (metric tonnes) at a named warehouse or across all CWC facilities in a district or state, current occupancy rate, and commodity-wise breakdown of goods stored.
2. Storage charge schedules: The published schedule of rent rates applicable at CWC warehouses for different commodity categories, along with any revisions notified during the last three years and the orders or circulars effecting those revisions.
3. Tender award records: Notice Inviting Tender (NIT), list of bidders, comparative statement of bids, technical evaluation scores, and the final award order for contracts related to warehouse operations, security, handling, transportation, or fumigation.
4. Fumigation and pest control records: Fumigation logs, inspection reports, and details of the agency engaged and chemicals used at a named warehouse during a specified period.
5. Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (NWR) details: Eligibility criteria for NWR issuance, list of commodities eligible, collateral management arrangements, fees charged, and the number of NWRs issued from a named warehouse during a specified period.
6. Depositor complaint records: Number and nature of complaints filed against a named warehouse or Regional Office during a specified period, along with a statement of resolution status.
7. FCI grain stock at CWC facilities: Quantity and condition of FCI-owned grain stored at a named CWC warehouse — useful for cross-referencing with FCI's own RTI disclosures.
8. Officer and staff information: Names and designations of the CPIO and First Appellate Authority at the relevant CWC office, as required by Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act (suo motu disclosure obligations).

Farmers storing produce at CWC facilities, agri-businesses using CWC for bonded warehousing, traders and procurement agencies concerned about storage costs, and civil society organisations monitoring public procurement can all use RTI to hold CWC accountable for its operations. RTI Sathi can help you draft and file your CWC RTI application end-to-end.