Ahead of padddy sowing, Mann seeks uninterrupted fertiliser supply

Chandigarh: Two days after PM Narendra Modi said the Centre was shielding farmers from rising fertiliser prices, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday met Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to seek uninterrupted fertiliser supply ahead of next month's paddy sowing season. He later met Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari to push for faster implementation of key infrastructure projects in Punjab. During his meeting with Chouhan, Mann sought denotification of hybrid paddy seeds, saying they were resulting in higher grain breakage during milling and creating procurement problems for farmers."Such produce does not conform to the quality standards prescribed by the Food Corporation of India, causing serious inconvenience to farmers during procurement," Mann said, urging immediate action before the kharif season.He also sought Punjab's representation in the Central Seed Committee proposed under the Seed Bill 2025 and pitched for greater Central support for crop diversification."Punjab, being an agrarian state with a major contribution towards the national food pool, must have adequate representation in the Central Seed Committee," he said.Chouhan assured Mann that a special committee would examine the issue of hybrid paddy seeds.The chief minister also flagged Punjab's worsening groundwater situation while pitching for diversification away from the wheat-paddy cycle."Out of the total 150 blocks in Punjab, groundwater levels in 117 blocks have already entered the dark zone," Mann said.In his meeting with Gadkari, Mann sought expedited execution of several highway and flyover projects and demanded national highway status for a number of strategically important roads in Punjab.Mann said Gadkari assured him that stalled infrastructure works, including those at Makhu, Adampur and Bhawanigarh, would be fast-tracked. He also claimed the Centre had agreed in principle to four-laning of several major corridors, including the Bhawanigarh-Kotshamir road via Sunam, Cheema Mandi, Bhikhi, Mansa and Maur.The chief minister raised the issue of the delayed Wallah flyover project in Amritsar, saying the corridor was crucial as it connected the airport with Sri Harmandir Sahib.Mann also sought speedy approval for four-laning of the Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur-Manali road on NH-70, citing its strategic importance because of the presence of Adampur airport and airbase along the stretch.He further demanded national highway status for several roads, including the Chandigarh-Landran-Chunni-Sirhind road, the Dharamkot-Zira-Ferozepur-Fazilka road near the international border, and the Banga-Garhshankar-Sri Anandpur Sahib road.Mann also sought release of pending payments under the Setu Bandhan Programme of the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund scheme, saying Punjab urgently required funds to clear liabilities related to ongoing infrastructure works.Need for crop diversification (BOX)Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the need for crop diversification was discussed, and the Centre decided it would work with the state govt under various central schemes. CM Bhagwant Mann said crop diversification was necessary to save the state's dipping groundwater table while ensuring farming remains lucrative.Meeting on hybrid paddy seeds (BOX)Bhagwant Mann said it was decided to set up a meeting with members from the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to discuss the issue of hybrid paddy that has a high rate of broken rice. He added that teams of the state agriculture department would reach out to farmers to make them aware of the need for diversification.