Punjab seeks ₹24,400 cr CCL for wheat purchase

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has started the process for wheat procurement in the rabi season and sought Rs 24,400 crore as cash credit limit (CCL) from the Centre.

As per the Punjab agriculture department’s estimate of a bumper crop, the food and civil supplies department is making preparations to procure 132 lakh tone grain through the state’s five procurement agencies and the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

The procurement in the rabi season begins on April 1.

“We would be shortly writing to the Centre for release of funds for procurement and hope to make all arrangements by March 15,” said food and civil supplies minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu.

“Wheat was sown on 35.2 lakh hectares. It is going to be a bumper crop as the temperature was conducive for its growth. Also, there was no yellow rust as it happened in the previous seasons,” said Rajesh Vashisht, the outgoing state director of agriculture.

Shortage of 1 lakh gunny bales

The state food and civil supplies department is facing a shortage of 1 lakh gunny bales against the required 3.79 bales. A bale has 1,000 bags of 50 kg capacity each.

“The orders (for bags) have been placed with the Jute Corporation of India but the production has decreased due to the coronavirus pandemic,” the minister said.

The state is still to get approval from the Centre to procure wheat in the polypropylene (plastic) bags. “Though it is not advisable to store grain in plastic bags, we have no other option as other states have also lined up with more demand.

Ashu is likely to meet Union home minister Amit Shah to take up the issue of the procurement. “I was supposed to meet Union consumer affairs, and food and public distribution minister Piyush Goyal but I received a message to see the home minister. I hope to get time on Wednesday or Thursday,” said Ashu.

STATE TO SOON WRITE TO CENTRE FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS BY MARCH 15, SAYS MINISTER BHARAT BHUSHAN ASHU