Chandigarh, April 17:Due to the persistent efforts of the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Union Government has given relaxations to Punjab in respect of the Wheat procurement season 2026 - 27.

The limit of lustre loss in wheat has been relaxed up to 70% across the state and the UT (Chandigarh), at par with the Haryana.

With regard to the shrivelled and broken grains, relaxation has been given up to 15%, against the existing limit of 6% under uniform specifications in the entire state of Punjab.

Disclosing this here today while chairing a meeting to review the procurement operations in a VC, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak exhorted the District Food Supply Controllers (DFSCs) and the senior officers to leave no stone unturned in ensuring a successful and hassle free procurement season for all the stakeholders.

Laying strong emphasis on the speedy lifting of the produce, the Minister added that lifting should be ensured within 72 hours of the produce being procured. He also directed the officials to make sure that the payments of the procured crops must be credited into the accounts of the farmers within the time frame of 48 hours. The process must be carried out with utmost transparency.

Exhorting the DFSCs to personally visit the mandis, Mr. Kataruchak said that there is no shortage of Bardana in the mandis but in case there is a need for Bardana in any district then the inter district movement can be arranged. However, there should be no compromise on the quality aspect, added the Minister.

Among others present on the occasion included the Director Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Varinder Kumar Sharma, Additional Directors Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar and Ajayveer Singh Sarao, & GM Finance Sarvesh Kumar.

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