Chandigarh, Sept. 6 -- With Punjab facing a severe shortage of storage space ahead of the new paddy procurement season, the state cabinet, chaired by chief minister Bhagwant Mann, on Friday approved the Punjab Custom Milling Policy for the 2026-27 season allowing rice millers to receive fresh paddy even if they are yet to complete delivery of rice milled from the previous crop.

Millers who have delivered at least 90% of the rice against the paddy allotted to them during the 2025-26 season will be eligible for fresh paddy. The relaxation is aimed at ensuring that milling and procurement operations continue without disruption once procurement of the new crop begins later this month. Most of the Punjab millers are yet to complete the millin...