Punjab Faces Storage Crisis as Wheat Arrivals Near 100 Lakh Tonnes
Storage blues for Punjab as wheat arrivals near 100 LMT
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
Punjab's wheat arrivals have reached nearly 100 lakh tonnes, prompting storage challenges for state agencies. With only 34 lakh tonnes lifted so far, officials are struggling to manage the influx, exacerbated by damaged grain that must be stored separately. A central team is in Punjab to oversee procurement efforts.
- 01Wheat arrivals in Punjab have reached nearly 100 lakh tonnes.
- 02Only 34 lakh tonnes of wheat have been lifted from state mandis.
- 03At least 35% of the arriving grain is damaged and requires separate storage.
- 04The state has a storage capacity of 180 lakh tonnes, which is nearly full.
- 05BJP's Sunil Jakhar has raised concerns over potential corruption in the purchase of old gunny bags.
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Punjab's wheat procurement has surged, with arrivals nearing 100 lakh tonnes as of Sunday. The state opened 1,872 mandis to manage an estimated 122 lakh tonnes of wheat, but only 34 lakh tonnes have been lifted due to storage constraints. A significant 35% of the grain arriving is damaged, complicating storage efforts as it must be kept separate from good quality grain. The state's storage capacity is 180 lakh tonnes, which is nearly exhausted, leading officials to explore temporary storage solutions, including rice mills and open plinths. Additionally, Bharatiya Janata Party state president Sunil Jakhar has called for an investigation into alleged corruption regarding the purchase of old gunny bags at inflated prices, raising concerns about procurement practices under the Aam Aadmi Party government.
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The storage crisis could lead to delays in grain distribution and affect farmers' incomes, as only a fraction of the wheat is being lifted from the mandis.
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