``We have decided to move paddy or brown rice out of Punjab in an unlimited quantity to wherever states want,''food and civil supplies secretary, MD Asthana told PTI.

Punjab procured nearly 60 lakh tonnes of rice from the growers annually but total milling capacity in the state was only 30-40 lakh tonnes, he said.

``The decision will be significant in view of rice procurement in Punjab expected to increase to 90 lakh tonnes next season (October 1999-September 2000),'' the official said.

The decision would result in quick movement of rice and it would be a simple process, he said.

In case, states are hesitant to take paddy, then they would be given brown rice, which is got by dehusking the paddy.

``There should be no problem in dehusking as it can bedown even on roadsides in Punjab,'' he said. Such a decision would help states like Tamil Nadu which required an additional 10 lakh tonnes of rice annually from the Central Pool and Karnataka which needed 12 lakh tonnes.

In case, states moved out brown rice from Punjab then the job of polishing would have to be done by them, Asthana said.

``That will reduce the broken percentage. Moreover, this could be sent to Madhya Pradesh, which has excess milling capacity,'' he said.

Meanwhile, food ministry and state government have agreed that there would be no compromise in norms for rice procurement next season.

``States have opposed any relaxation of norms for rice procurement. We also favour it,'' Asthana said. Usually, the norms are relaxed by centre on request from the state government, when paddy are affected by rains.

Last year, centre had relaxed the norms for rice procurement from Punjab and Haryana, which witnessed unseasonal rains during September and October.

"Both centre and States are againstany relaxation of norms as this gives rise to corruption at all levels,'' Asthana said.

Also, consumers, farmers and even millers were against relaxation of norms, he said.

These decisions come on the heels of government expecting to procure over 14 million tonnes of rice next season.