NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH, APRIL 11 — The Union Government has agreed to deploy special trains to evacuate 155 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and rice currently occupying storage facilities in Punjab. The decision follows a high-level meeting on Friday between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Union Food and Public Distribution Minister Pralhad Joshi.
The initiative intended to address a critical shortage of storage space as the Rabi Marketing Season begins. Chief Minister Mann stated that the state’s covered godowns are nearly at full capacity, with approximately 180.88 lakh metric tonnes of existing stock leaving only minimal room for the incoming harvest.
“The Rabi Marketing Season 2026–27 has begun in the state from April 1, 2026, during which procurement of 130–132 lakh metric tonnes of wheat is expected,” the Chief Minister affirmed. He noted that the current movement of grain out of the state has averaged only 5 lakh metric tonnes per month, a rate he characterized as insufficient for the state’s needs.
Beyond storage logistics, the Chief Minister raised several financial concerns, including the withholding of approximately ₹9,000 crore in Rural Development Fund (RDF) dues. He maintained that these funds are essential for the maintenance and modernization of mandi infrastructure. The Union Minister responded by proposing a secretary-level meeting to establish a mechanism for the eventual release of these payments.
The Chief Minister also addressed the disparity in interest rates for Cash Credit Limits. He asserted that the State Bank of India charges Punjab a rate 0.55% higher than that applied to the Food Corporation of India. “As a result, the State of Punjab is incurring an avoidable loss of approximately ₹500 crore every season,” he declared.
