Punjab CM seeks Centre's intervention for expediting movement of grains from state

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday urged Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, Prahlad Joshi, to expedite the movement of food grains from Punjab to ensure smooth procurement and storage in the coming months.

During his meeting with Joshi at his residence, Mann highlighted that in the upcoming Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025-26, beginning April 1, Punjab is expected to procure 124 LMT of wheat. Additionally, around 5 LMT of wheat from the previous season remains in stock, creating a total storage requirement of 129 LMT. He emphasized that due to a severe shortage of storage space, most covered storage areas are being used for rice, further complicating the situation.

Mann requested the Union Minister to facilitate the movement of at least 25 LMT of wheat through direct delivery special trains to manage storage constraints effectively. He also pointed out that due to limited space for rice storage, only 45% of the rice quota had been accepted by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). "As of today, space available with FCI is 7.50 LMTs while a total of 71.50 LMTs of rice is yet to be delivered. Therefore, maximum movement of rice from the state must be allowed by FCI to ensure timely completion of rice milling for KMS 2024-25," he stated.

Raising concerns over the reduction in Arthia Commission for wheat procurement at silos, Mann highlighted that the issue had been discussed with the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India. He stressed that if the commission for arthias at silos were at par with that of regular mandis, there would be net savings on mandi labor and transportation charges. "Arthias are performing the same operations in silos as in mandis, so their commission should be allowed at the same rate," he asserted.

Mann also addressed the issue of restricting the Arthia Commission in the provisional cost sheet, stating that the commission had been frozen at ₹46 per quintal for wheat since RMS 2020-21 and ₹45.88 per quintal for paddy since KMS 2019-20. "As per the Punjab Agriculture Produce Marketing Act, 1961, arthia commission is set at 2.5% of MSP, which amounts to ₹60.63 per quintal for the upcoming Rabi season. However, the Government of India has not finalized this rate for reimbursement. If this issue is not resolved, arthias may go on strike again, disrupting wheat procurement in RMS 2025-26," he warned.

Additionally, Mann urged the central government to immediately release Punjab’s pending share of the Rural Development Fund (RDF). He stressed that the state had completed all necessary formalities and that it was time for the center to disburse the funds. "States are not beggars; they should receive their rightful share instead of being subjected to unnecessary delays," he remarked.

In response, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi assured Bhagwant Singh Mann that the central government would sympathetically consider Punjab’s demands.