Chandigarh, March 31 -- Even as wheat harvesting is expected to begin at full scale in mid-April owing to late rainfall in the month of March, Punjab food and civil supplies minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Monday announced that the state government will start procurement operations on April 1.

In a review meeting, he directed the district food supply controllers (DFSCs) to make sure that wheat from outside the state is not sold in Punjab mandis. The minister asked the DFSCs to personally visit the mandis, while reviewing the preparations for the upcoming procurement season.

The minister apprised that the state has received a cash credit limit of Rs.30,973 crore for the month of April. Besides, the state has a target of procuring 122 la...