Govt relaxes procurement norms for weather-hit wheat

New Delhi: Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced major relaxations in wheat procurement norms in view of the adverse weather conditions that have affected crop quality this year.Gupta said that acting on a request sent by Delhi govt to central govt on April 21, special relaxations on quality standards for wheat procurement had been approved for all districts of Delhi for the Rabi marketing season 2026-27. The relaxations will be applicable from the beginning of the current procurement season.Under the revised norms, wheat with up to 70% loss of lustre will now be accepted. The permissible limit for shrivelled and broken grains has also been increased from 6% to 15% to ensure that weather-affected produce also qualifies for procurement. However, to maintain quality balance, it has been specified that broken and slightly broken grains together must not exceed 6%.Gupta said, “Wheat procured under these relaxed norms will be handled separately. Such grain will be stored independently from regular stock, with a distinct accounting system to ensure full transparency.”She added that this wheat would be prioritised for early utilisation and won’t be kept in storage for extended periods. CM added that they would also be used strictly within Delhi to meet local food requirements. Any deterioration in quality during storage will be the responsibility of Delhi govt, she clarified.“Ensuring fair value for the hard work of our annadatas is our responsibility," Gupta said.