CHANDIGARH: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has urged the Centre to urgently clear foodgrain stocks from the State before the peak arrival of paddy, stressing that adequate storage space must be ensured to facilitate smooth procurement and prevent any difficulties for farmers in mandis. In a letter to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, the Chief Minister sought immediate movement of 6 LMT (Lakh Metric Ton) rice by October 10 and 15 LMT wheat during October, pointing out that nearly 40 LMT wheat stocks are occupying space at rice mills and mandi yards, with around 17 LMT still lying there. He stressed that these stocks must be cleared to create adequate space for incoming paddy and ensure that farmers can bring their produce to mandis without facing storage-related hurdles.
In the letter, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann reminded Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi that Punjab had requested the movement of 15 LMT rice and 10-12 LMT wheat during September 2026 to complete the delivery of rice from KMS 2025-26 and clear wheat stocks lying in rice mills and mandi yards before the start of KMS 2026-27. “However, only 8.3 LMT rice and 4.3 LMT wheat has been moved out of the State from 1st to 29th September 2026,” noted the Chief Minister.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said Punjab had repeatedly requested the Centre for adequate monthly movement of foodgrains, stating, “It is pertinent to mention here that State has been making repeated requests since June’26 to provide at least 10 LMT movement of wheat & rice every month, however, the actual movement of wheat and rice from June to September 2026 has only been as follows.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the requested movement was necessary “so as to ensure smooth procurement operations during KMS 2026-27 and to avoid any untoward/law & order situation in this sensitive border State.”
