Kataruchak meets Union minister over storage space

Chandigarh/New Delhi, August 28

Taking up the issue of acute shortage of covered storage space for rice with the FCI in Punjab, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today called upon Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi.

During the meeting, Kataruchak apprised the Union minister that there was an acute shortage of space for rice in the state which had been aggravated by the limited movement of only 3-4 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of rice from the state since April this year.

Kataruchak further said the issue needed to be resolved at the earliest keeping in view the fact that the kharif marketing season (KMS)-2024 was set to begin from October 1 and approximately 185-190 LMT paddy was likely to be procured during the season that would further yield 125-128 LMT rice. He emphasised on early resolution of the issue since the rice millers in Punjab were worried due to prevailing space crunch and that it might impact the smooth procurement of paddy during the season.

He urged the Union minister to direct the FCI to make requisite arrangements of covered storage space and ensure a minimum monthly movement of 20 LMT produce by mobilising at least 25 rakes of wheat and rice from covered godowns per day from Punjab from September 2024 to March 2025 so as to create adequate space for storing rice for KMS 2024-25.

The Union minister reportedly assured to resolve the issue of storage space.