Centre adopts 2-pronged strategy to resolve shortage of paddy storage in Punjab

The Centre on Tuesday told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that a two-pronged strategy was being adopted to address the shortage of storage for paddy in Punjab. Additional movement of food grains from the state had been planned. Besides, creation of new storage capacity was being undertaken on a priority basis.

As the matter came up for resumed hearing, the Bench was told that high-level meetings had already been held with the Punjab government. Follow-up actions were being taken up on a priority basis to ensure adequate storage arrangements were in place for the custom milled rice.

It was added that a high-level committee headed by chairman and managing director, Food Corporation of India, and comprising department of food and public distribution officials, was monitoring the movement of rice from Punjab on a weekly basis.

It was also stated by the Centre that follow-up meetings were being held every Thursday. The next meeting was scheduled to be held on October 31 and all the issues would be resolved.

Taking a note of the submissions, the Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal disposed of the matter after observing that it was required to be resolved amicably as it affected the entire state.

Petitioner Sunpreet Singh appeared in person, while the state of Punjab was represented by Advocate-General Gurminder Singh, with Additional Advocate-General JS Gill and Saurav Khurana. The Centre was represented by Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain.