Coming down heavily at the Union Government with respect to the space shortage issue, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Punjab, Lal Chand Kataruchak said that the Union Government is not doing enough to address the core issue of space constraint in the mandis of Punjab despite the issue being taken up at regular intervals by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The Union Government and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) were requested to provide 860 specials during the months of April and May, 2026. But, sufficient number of specials have not provided by the FCI which has led to the glut like situation in the mandis owing to the unprecedented arrival of 80 LMT of Wheat over a week itself, said the Minister adding during April only 3.5 LMT Wheat has been moved directly from mandis through Rail/Road/Container.
He further said that only 3-5 direct delivery specials are being provided daily since the start of May, 2026. Despite the abovesaid circumstances, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department has ensured a hassle free procurement season and is nearing the target of procuring 122 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of Wheat.
The arrival as of now stands at 121.65 Lakh MT out of which 120.89 LAKH MT stands procured. Out of the procured Wheat, the various Government agencies have procured 119.56 Lakh MT while the traders have procured 133203.15 MT till late Evening yesterday.
Lauding the efforts of the department, the Minister said that the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stands fully committed to procure every single bale of Grain produced so laboriously by the farming community. The Minister further stated that he has personally visited the mandis throughout the State to take stock of the procurement operations so as to make sure that no stone is left unturned in ensuring a hassle free procurement season.
On the payments front, Minimum Support Price of over Rs. 29000 Crores has already been credited into the accounts of the farmers. Notably, as part of the efforts for making the procurement season a success, foolproof arrangements have been made such as the operationalization of 1896 procurement centres and nearly 986 temporary yards.
Among others present on the occasion included the Principal Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rahul Tewari, Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Additional Directors Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar & Ajayveer Singh Sarao and GM Finance Sarvesh Kumar.