Will take up paddy grading issue with Centre: CM

The rice millers in Punjab are refusing to lift paddy from the mandis in the state,seeking a revision in the discolouration norms set for the procurement of paddy. “The millers are demanding that the damage and discolouration norms be revised from the current three per cent to five per cent,for which the Centre needs to be approached,” said Badal.

“We will soon talk to Sharad Pawar and seek relaxation in the norms,” said the CM.

The rice millers have said they would store paddy for milling only if the Food Corporation of India agreed to relax the damage content norms for PAU-201 variety to five per cent. The millers’ association has also demanded increased storage space.

Badal blamed the Centre for all problems pertaining to farming in the state. “The wrong policies of the Centre have made farming non-remunerative. The farmers of Punjab are under heavy debt,as farming no longer gives them good returns,” he said.

Urging farmers to diversify from the wheat-paddy cycle,Badal said the Government was in the process of setting up an ‘agro centre’ to help small and marginal farmers. Agro societies would be formed which would buy farm machinery,which the small and poor farmers could hire,he said.

‘Mayors not stripped of powers’

Favouring decentralisation of powers,Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said on Wednesday mayors had not been stripped of any power. On the decision that bars mayors from clearing change of land use cases,he said he would ascertain the facts,adding that he was in favour of granting more powers to elected representatives.