Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann met Union Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Minister Prahlad Joshi in New Delhi to discuss key issues related to grain management and crop damage in the state.
Mann requested the Centre to send a team to assess losses caused by recent rains and hailstorms in Punjab. The Union minister responded positively, and the Chief Minister said the central team may visit as early as Saturday.
He also demanded additional trains for lifting foodgrain from the state to ensure proper storage of wheat. Mann said around 155 lakh metric tonnes of grain is currently lying in warehouses. The Centre has assured extra trains from April to June.
The Chief Minister raised the issue of higher interest rates on cash credit limits provided by the Reserve Bank of India for procurement. He said Punjab faces an additional burden of around ₹500 crore due to the higher rate and urged the Centre to reduce it.
Mann also highlighted the demand of commission agents for a 2.5% arhtiya commission and sought the Centre’s approval. He further urged the release of pending rural development funds worth ₹9,000 crore.
He said that if the Centre releases these funds, Punjab may withdraw its case pending in the Supreme Court.
Reacting to a letter by BJP Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar, Mann said it should have been addressed to the Prime Minister. He also stated that the current crop insurance scheme norms are not suitable for Punjab.
