Chandigarh, April 17 -- The Food Corporation of India (FCI) on Thursday recommended relaxing quality norms for wheat procurement in the current season following parallel investigations carried out by it in addition to the teams sent by the Union ministry of food and public distribution.

The wheat crop in the state suffered damage due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms in the fag end of March and the first week of April, leading to widespread lodging and damage to grains.

The state government had also sought relaxation in norms on April 9, citing crop damage.

To be sure, the Centre's decision on relaxation of norms will depend on the report and recommendation made by the six teams of ministry of food and public distribution, who were in...