Bhagwant Mann Seeks Central Intervention for Punjab’s Financial and Agricultural Concerns

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has urged the Union Food Minister to expedite the release of over ₹9,000 crore in pending funds for Punjab. The funds include the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and Market Fees, essential for rural infrastructure and the agricultural economy. Mann emphasized that the non-release of RDF has severely impacted the development and maintenance of rural infrastructure and the rural economy. He also expressed concerns about the shortage of covered storage space for rice, leading to delays in delivery. He advocated for measures to facilitate rice movement, including allocating rice to bio-ethanol units, exports, and other channels. Furthermore, he addressed the Aarthia Commission issue and proposed advancing the paddy procurement dates.