New Delhi, March 26:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday sought kind intervention of Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Prahlad Joshi to expedite movement of food grains (rice and wheat) from the state to ensure smooth and hassle free procurement and storage of grains in coming times.
The Chief Minister who called upon Joshi here at his residence, apprised him that during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2025-26 which is to begin on April 1, the state is expected to procure 124 LMT wheat. He said that around five LMT of wheat of previous crop season is also stocked in the state due to which the state has to make arrangements for the storage of about 129 LMT of wheat. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to acute storage space crunch, most of the covered space available with the agencies is being diverted for the storage of rice.
The Chief Minister said that as per the availability of storage space, the state would require at least 25 LMT of wheat direct delivery special trains to cope with the shortfall in storage space. He asked the Union Minister to intervene so that the wheat stock may be moved out on priority through direct delivery special trains. Additionally, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to shortage of space for rice, only 45 % of rice due has so far been accepted by FCI.
He said that as of today, space available with FCI is 7.50 LMTs while a total of 71.50 LMTs rice is yet to be delivered. Therefore, Bhagwant Mann urged that maximum movement of rice from the state may be allowed by FCI to ensure timely completion of rice milling of KMS 2024-25.
Raising the issue of Reduction in Arthia Commission for Wheat procurement at Silos, the Chief Minister said that the matter regarding payment of Arthia Commission at par with other mandi was discussed in various meetings with DFPD, GOI and it was also conveyed that if commission to arthias for purchase at silos is paid at par with purchase at regular mandis, there would be a net saving on account of Mandi Labour and Transportation charges. So, he requested that Arthia Commission in silos should be allowed at par with normal purchases to facilitate the direct purchase at silos. Bhagwant Singh Mann apprised the Union Minister that the arthias are performing operations in Silos same as that of mandi operations.
Flagging the issue of Restriction Limit on Arthia Commission in provisional cost sheet, the Chief Minister said that the Arthia Commission was restricted to @ Rs. 46.00/qtl for wheat in PCS of RMS 2020-21 and @ Rs. 45.88/qtl for paddy in PCS of KMS 2019-20, since then same rate has been frozen and being allowed to the state for paddy and wheat procurement in every cost sheet by Government of India adding that as per Punjab Agriculture Produce Marketing Act,1961 and the rules framed there under provide for arhtia commission of 2.5% on MSP (i.e. Rs. 2425/- for RMS 2025-26), which comes out to be Rs 60.63/qtl in the upcoming Rabi season but the Arhtia commission is reimbursed by the Government of India but the rate has not been finalized so far. He said that restriction on Arthia Commission by Government of India led to the agitation by the Arthias in previous Kharif Marketing Season 2024-25 and they went on strike due to non fulfilling of their demand, which affected the procurement operations during the season. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that if this issue is not addressed then arhtias may go on strike again thus affecting procurement of wheat during the coming procurement season RMS 2025-26.
Dwelling on another issue, the Chief Minister said that the centre government should immediately release the state’s pending share of RDF. He said that Punjab government has already completed the necessary formalities for it and now it is the high time that centre should release this money. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that states are not beggars and they should be given their legitimate share of funds by centre instead of harassing them.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister assured Bhagwant Singh Mann that the Union government will sympathetically look into the demands of the state government.
