Photo Source; Babushahi Bureau
MoS Ravneet Bittu hits out at Punjab Govt over paddy procurement crisis
Harshabab Sidhu
Chandigarh, October 27, 2024: Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu criticised Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government over ongoing paddy procurement crisis in the state.
During a review meeting with the General Manager of Punjab Region of Food Corporation of India (FCI) IAS Srinivasan regarding the procurement and storage of food grains in Punjab.
In the meeting, the problems related to lifting and storage of grains in Punjab were discussed in detail.Minister Bittu said that the central government has assisted Rs 44,000 crore to the Punjab government and all the necessary funds have also been released.
"Despite this, the state government has failed to fulfill its responsibilities. With the help of railways, a large amount of rice is being transported from Punjab to different parts of the country. However, even after this, the Punjab government says that they lack space for storage," said Ravneet Bittu.
Bittu also informed that funds were given by FCI for storing 31 lakh metric tonnes of crops, but even after a year, no contract has been issued. Also, the Punjab government still has 15 lakh metric tonnes of grain storage space lying vacant, but the lifting work is stopped.