The Punjab assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution on problems faced by the state in storage of foodgrains, requesting the SAD-BJP government to take up the issue of storage and grains movement with the Centre.
The Congress and SAD-BJP combine blamed each other for the lack of adequate space for storing foodgrains and the resultant situation. Punjab faces a shortage of storing around 70 lakh tonne of foodgrains.
The resolution was discussed amidst thin attendance in the House. Punjab food and supplies minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon said that several letters were written to the Centre during 2007-08 about the lack of space for storing foodgrains in the state.
The problem had not cropped up suddenly, rather it kept increasing over the years, Kairon said.
He said while the Congress was in power, no demands to increase the storage capacity were sent to the Centre.
He also said no warehouse was constructed during the tenure of the Congress. Kairon said there was a shortage of gunny bags for packing foodgrains.
Several MLAs gave their opinion on the issue during the discussion. Deep Malhotra of SAD-BJP said food processing industry should be set up in Punjab.
{{/usCountry}}Several MLAs gave their opinion on the issue during the discussion. Deep Malhotra of SAD-BJP said food processing industry should be set up in Punjab.
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