Facing flak from different farmers' bodies, the Punjab government withdrew its order declaring private silos as wheat procurement centres in the state.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed the cancellation of the order pertaining to declaring silos as sub yards.
This was announced by Punjab Mandi Board chairman Harchand Singh Barsat, who said that the decision has been taken in view of farmers' demands.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had threatened to hold demonstrations against allowing private silos to be used as wheat procurement centres in Punjab.
Barsat said the silos will be used for storage purposes only. Responding to farmer unions' claim that the silos will have made the grain markets redundant, he clarified that no market committee will be dissolved.
The Punjab Mandi Board, in its order on March 15, had declared 11 silos in nine districts, being managed by private companies, as purchase, sale and storage centres in view of the Rabi marketing season that started on April 1.
A steel silo, considered to be a scientific way of storage of food grains, ensures better preservation than conventional storage warehouses. A silo also can also act as a purchase centre where farmers can bring their crops for sale.
Barsat said every year new procurement centres are added for the convenience of farmers. Punjab has a total of 1,907 procurement centres, 47 of which have been added this year, he said.
Addressing mediapersons, SKM (Non Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal condemned the decision to declare corporate silos in nine districts as procurement centres for wheat storage in Punjab and said the Punjab government had "acted at the behest of the Centre", while KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher accused the AAP government of trying to please corporations by allowing the sale, purchase and storage of wheat at private silos.