Punjab stands its ground on 3% RDF, returns with assurance from Centre

“Joshi told Punjab ministers that the national concern ministry had issues with Punjab levying 3 per cent RDF arsenic the neighbouring Haryana was charging lone 2 per cent. He told them that the objection connected releasing 3 per cent RDF was raised by the concern ministry only,” said a root privy to developments.

The root added that the Punjab ministers informed Joshi that it was a ineligible close of the authorities authorities to levy immoderate magnitude of taxation connected its produce. The ministers, sources said, had gone prepared to archer the Centre that for carrying retired 2 monolithic procurement operations worthy implicit Rs 60,000 crore annually, the authorities needed infrastructure. The authorities has invested hundreds of crores connected mounting up mandis and connecting these with nexus roads. A batch of wealth is required to repair and support this infrastructure. The authorities has implicit 1,700 mandis and a agrarian roadworthy web of 36,000 km that person not been repaired for 3 years arsenic the Centre has not released RDF that has present ballooned to good implicit Rs 6,767 crore.

This is for the archetypal clip that the AAP led authorities has softened its basal and resorted to prosecute successful a dialog with the Centre. Earlier, it had moved the Supreme Court against the Centre for non outgo of RDF. The lawsuit is pending proceeding successful the apical court.

Kataruchak said that they raised the contented powerfully with Joshi. “The gathering took spot successful a cordial environment. We told the national curate that it was Punjab’s close to question its RDF. We volition not tolerate immoderate slashing of tax. We volition enactment towards getting it. They assured america that they volition see it sympathetically”.

He added, “We utilized to get 3 per cent RDF and 3 per cent MDF. They reduced it to 2 per cent each. We anticipation that the contented is sorted retired soon. We had to spell to SC arsenic the Centre was not agreeing to our demands. If the dialog moves further, we tin deliberation of withdrawing the lawsuit from the SC”.

After the meeting, Joshi, a station connected X said that helium “discussed with Kunjab ministers ways to further fortify collaboration successful the nutrient and nationalist organisation sector”.

Cheema expressed gratitude to Joshi “for a elaborate treatment connected assorted matters (RDF)”. He further hoped that with Joshi’s guidance and enactment from Union Finance Minisyter “all pending issues volition beryllium resolved soon”.

Punjab levies RDF connected foodgrain it procures for cardinal pool. However, for the past 3 years, the Centre has been withholding the magnitude saying it tin lone wage 2 per cent, RDF, a connection that the authorities had earlier refused.

At the clip successful 2023 erstwhile authorities moved the Supreme Court alleging non-release of the RDF and withholding a information of the marketplace fee, Centre owed it Rs 4,200 crore. The pending RDF has present ballooned to Rs 6,767 crore. An further magnitude of Rs 1300 crore has been added connected relationship of procurement of paddy, taking the full magnitude to Rs 8,000 crore.