Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has once again reached out to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, emphasising the urgent need to facilitate the movement of foodgrain stocks from the state. In his recent correspondence, Mann has requested the transfer of 6 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of rice between October 1 and 10, alongside 15 LMT of wheat throughout October. He raised concerns that insufficient storage facilities could disrupt the procurement of paddy and lead to law and order issues in Punjab during the peak arrival period.

In his letter, Mann referred to a previous communication dated September 5, where he had sought the Centre’s support regarding the movement of 15 LMT of rice and 10 to 12 LMT of wheat in September. This initiative aimed to wrap up the delivery of rice from the Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2025-26 while making room for new procurement activities.

However, the progress has been disappointing, with only 8.30 LMT of rice and 4.30 LMT of wheat transported out of Punjab from September 1 to September 29. The pace of foodgrain movement has been notably slow in recent months, with movement figures for rice and wheat remaining less than anticipated.

Storage Concerns for Rice and Wheat

Mann highlighted that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has been facing persistent storage deficiencies, impacting the delivery of Custom Milled Rice from the previous KMS. As of September 29, the FCI had received a significant quantity of 99.50 LMT, amounting to 94 per cent of the total due of 105.64 LMT, leaving approximately 6 LMT of rice yet to be delivered. Given that the new Kharif Marketing Season starts on October 1, there is an urgent need to complete these pending deliveries.

The Chief Minister pointed out that if the outstanding deliveries are not completed by mid-October, rice millers may decline to participate in the storage and milling of paddy. This, in turn, could lead to unrest among various stakeholders, particularly farmers, highlighting the interconnectedness of food grain procurement and storage.

Moreover, Mann underscored the issue of wheat storage, which remains equally concerning. Approximately 40 LMT of wheat procured during the Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026-27 are currently stored in rice mills and mandi yards, creating further complications. Due to delays in the removal of wheat stocks from June to September, nearly 17 LMT of RMS wheat is still within storage limits as of September 29. The Chief Minister stressed that this necessitates immediate movement throughout October to accommodate the upcoming paddy procurements.

Potential Implications for Law and Order

Mann expressed his belief that continued storage limitations could deter rice millers from participating in future procurement efforts during KMS 2026-27. With a significant influx of paddy projected, the Chief Minister warned that the situation might escalate into a law and order problem in Punjab, a state known for its sensitivity. He requested Joshi’s personal involvement to ensure that the necessary officials from the Department of Food and Public Distribution and FCI facilitate the urgent movement of grains.

Mann’s appeal is fundamentally aimed at guaranteeing smooth procurement operations amidst rising tension over storage constraints. Ensuring timely movement of 6 LMT of rice and 15 LMT of wheat is deemed crucial to prevent any adverse scenarios in the state during the critical procurement season.

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