The Punjab Cabinet, in its first meeting after a recent reshuffle, took several critical decisions on Tuesday with the approval of the Punjab Custom Milling Policy for Kharif 2024-25 at the forefront. The policy, which regulates the conversion of paddy procured by state agencies into custom-milled rice, is set to streamline operations for the upcoming Kharif Marketing Season starting October 2024. The Cabinet also greenlit a Rs 281-crore proposal for the rehabilitation and safety of dams, with Rs 200 crore to be sourced as a loan from the World Bank. Additionally, the introduction of a policy to grant ownership rights to marginalized communities and a reduction in environmental clearance fees further marked the day’s decisions. 

During the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at his residence in Chandigarh, the Council of Ministers approved the Punjab Custom Milling Policy for Kharif 2024-25. The policy will facilitate the milling of paddy procured by state agencies such as Pungrain, Markfed, and Punsup into custom-milled rice, which will then be delivered to the central pool.  

The procurement of paddy is scheduled to start on October 1, 2024, and will continue until November 30, 2024. The procured paddy will be stored in eligible rice mills across the State, with online portals managing the allocation of paddy to these mills through a streamlined system under the RO scheme. The rice millers will be responsible for milling the stored paddy by March 31, 2025, ensuring timely delivery to meet national food supply requirements.  

The policy not only aims to make the paddy milling process more efficient but also reduces bureaucratic delays by linking rice mills directly to the mandis online. This initiative is expected to benefit both rice millers and the State Government by ensuring smoother operations during the marketing season.

Dams Rehabilitation Project with World Bank Assistance

To enhance infrastructure safety, the Cabinet approved Rs 281 crore proposal for the rehabilitation and improvement of dams in the state. Of this amount, Rs 200 crore will be provided as a loan by the World Bank, while the remaining 30 percent, approximately Rs 84.3 crore, will be funded by the State Government. The project aimed to address long-standing concerns regarding dam safety and maintenance, with a focus on improving flood control measures and ensuring the structural integrity of key dams across Punjab. The Cabinet emphasized the importance of this project, given the role that dams play in managing water resources for agriculture, drinking water, and industrial uses. The initiative will not only prevent potential environmental disasters but also secure water resources vital to the state's agrarian economy.

OTHER DECISIONS

**Property Rights to Empower Marginalized Communities

**Environmental Clearance Fee Reduced to boost industrial growth

**Regularization of Public Land Encroachments

** Focus on Education and Employment