March 7, 2002
'39' PUNJAB TO CONSIDER CROP DIVERSIFICATIONGovernment of Punjab will consider diversification of crop to prevent excess production of wheat and paddy in the State. Capt. Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister of Punjab, who called on Shri Shanta Kumar, Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution here today informed the Union Minister that a Committee had been formed to look in to the viability of cultivating oilseeds and pulses also in the State.
Shri Shanta Kumar assured the Punjab Chief Minister that the wheat procurement operations in the ensuing Rabi Marketing Season in Punjab would be smooth as usual. He also agreed to review the availability of storage space in Punjab by moving the existing stocks from the FCI godowns in the state. Capt. Amarinder Singh requested the centre to augment in the storage capacity in the state by an additional 10 lakh tonnes. The centre had already guaranteed provision of 20.2 lakh MTs covered godowns in the state which are already under construciton.