CM Bhagwant Mann: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi and discussed early and time bound resolution of various pending issues to Punjab, including border security arrangements, agrarian crisis, inter-state water disputes and delay in payment of Rural Development Fund dues by the Centre.

Also highlighting the difficulties faced by farmers due to the border security wall being far away from the zero line, the Chief Minister expressed concern over the large portion of cultivable land falling between the International Border and the barbed wire, due to which farmers have to cross it daily to reach their fields.

Demand for immediate and timely resolution of issues

Punjab Chief Minister discussed the proposed Seed Bill 2025, unresolved Satluj Yamuna Link (SYL) dispute, FCI. Raised Punjab’s objections regarding slow transportation of grains, stoppage of middlemen commission, non-payment of Rural Development Fund (RDF) and market fees and reducing Punjab’s role in Chandigarh administration, and demanded immediate and time-bound resolution of these issues.

Zone based system introduced in the bill

Taking serious exception to the proposed Seed Bill 2025, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Punjab is an agricultural state and contributes significantly to the grain reserves of the country, yet the blueprint of the Seed Bill does not ensure representation of the state as per the schedule under the relevant section. The zone-based system introduced in the Bill does not guarantee Punjab’s representation in the Central Seed Committee, unlike the existing system, thereby suppressing the state’s voice in decisions directly affecting the seed sector.

Strong compensation for farmers

The Punjab Chief Minister further said, “The proposed Seed Bill curtails the existing powers of the State as there is no role for the State Seed Committee in seed registration and there is no mention in the blueprint of ensuring a robust compensation structure for farmers who suffer losses due to non-observance of registered seeds.

Agriculture is the backbone of Punjab

The Chief Minister further said that seed varieties tested and released abroad have been allowed for import and sale in Punjab and other states without the mandatory local testing under the agro-climatic conditions of the state, posing serious risks to the farmers. He said agriculture is the backbone of Punjab, where farmers grow crops, sell part of the produce and store seeds for the next season.

He said that forcing farmers to completely depend on companies for seeds is neither fair nor in the interest of the farmers. He appealed that the bill should not be brought before Parliament in its current form. He said that the Union Home Minister has assured to investigate the problems.

Availability of water from Satluj, Ravi and Beas

Reiterating Punjab’s clear stand regarding river waters, the Chief Minister said, “Punjab has no surplus water to share with any other state. The water availability of Sutlej, Ravi and Beas has reduced significantly and hence construction of Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal is not practical.

Punjab’s stand clear before Supreme Court

He said that 34.34 MAF of these rivers. Of the water, Punjab gets only 14.22 MAF. Which is about 40 percent and the remaining 60 percent was allotted to Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan. However, none of these rivers actually flow through these states. He said that this is a grave injustice to Punjab and there is no question of building this canal as it is completely against the interests of the state and its people.” He stressed that Punjab’s stand before the Supreme Court is clear that there is no surplus water to give to any other state.

delivery of metric ton rice

Highlighting the problem of transportation and storage of grains, the Chief Minister said, “Only 4 to 5 lakh metric tons of wheat and 5 to 6 lakh metric tons of rice are being transported from the state by FCI in the last five months. 95 lakh metric tons of rice is to be delivered for the Kharif Marketing Season 2025-26, but at present only 20 lakh metric tons of space is available.

Special trains for transportation of stock

He said to ensure timely delivery of custom milled rice for Kharif Procurement Season 2025-26 and adequate availability of space for storage of wheat during Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2026-27 commencing from 01.04.2026, monthly movement of at least 20 lakh metric tonnes of grains (10 LMT each for wheat and rice) from the State. It is necessary. Appealing to run special trains for transportation of stock, he said that there are about 125 LMT in Punjab National Pool. Wheat contributes and proper storage is essential for national food security.

Punjab Agricultural Products and Marketing Act

Speaking on the issue of commission commission, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Commission of commission agents has been frozen from the procurement season of 2019-20 contrary to the provisions of the Punjab Agricultural Produce and Marketing Act 1961 and at present the commission has been limited to Rs 46 per quintal for wheat and Rs 45.88 per quintal for paddy.

Committee constituted for amendment of commission commission

He said that the broker commission for purchasing grains at silos has been reduced to half that of regular mandis and the committee formed for the revision of broker commission in January 2024 has not yet taken any decision. He said, “Arhtiyas are not agents, they provide essential services and should be given their due rights. The delay in amending the commission may create hindrance in the smooth procurement process of the state and the rates should be finalized soon.

Amendment in Punjab Rural Development Act

Raising the issue of non-payment of Rural Development Fund, the Chief Minister said, “Despite clear legal provisions under the relevant Punjab Acts, RDF has not been paid to the state government. He said that even though the state government has amended the Punjab Rural Development Act under the instructions of the Government of India, but sadly, RDF has not been allowed from Kharif Procurement Season 2021-22.

Punjab’s rights and we are demanding our rights

He told that R.D.F. Rs 9030.91 crore of market fee and Rs 2267.83 crore of market fee are pending. He said that due to not getting the due share, the development of rural infrastructure has been adversely affected. He said, “RDF is not a charity. It is the right of Punjab and we are demanding our right.” He said that the Union Home Minister assured him that a meeting would be called soon to consider releasing the first installment.

Bad effect on Punjab’s role in work

Highlighting administrative concerns, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann stressed that the need of the hour is to maintain the long-standing 60:40 ratio of officials of Punjab and Haryana in the Union Territory of Chandigarh. He said that Punjab’s I.A.S. And P.C.S. The officers have been excluded from key posts in the Chandigarh administration and posts in departments like Excise, Education, Finance and Health have been transferred to the State UT. Cadre is being opened, due to which U.T. The role of Punjab in the effective functioning of administration is being adversely affected. He said the Union Home Minister assured him that the current ratio would be maintained.

Regular appointments continued to be made from Punjab cadre.

The Chief Minister appointed the Punjab cadre officer to FCI. Also raised the issue of appointment as General Manager of Punjab and said that Punjab cadre officers have necessary knowledge about procurement, mandis, storage and transportation of grains. He said that historical data shows that regular appointments to this post have been made from Punjab cadre, while officers of other cadres have only temporary charge. He appealed to follow this rule in the interest of efficiency and national food security.

Barbed wire two to three kilometers inside

Raising the issue about the border areas, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “As per international rules, the wall should be 150 meters away from the zero line but in many areas of Punjab, the border barbed wire is located two to three kilometers inside.” He said that thousands of acres of cultivable land is beyond this wire, due to which the farmers have to show their identity cards daily and go to the BSF. They are forced to cultivate their fields under the protection of

Arrangement efforts in Pathankot also

He said, “If the wire is rebuilt near the international border, a large part of the Indian land will come on this side of the wall, which will allow farmers to do farming without any fear and daily restrictions and this will not have to compromise on national security.” He further said that the Union Home Minister told him that this issue is under consideration and efforts have been made to make similar arrangements in Pathankot also.