28 lakh metric tons of wheat arrival in Mandis, over 24 LMT procured: Lal Chand Kataruchak
28 lakh metric tons of wheat arrival in Mandis, over 24 LMT procured: Lal Chand Kataruchak
Minister along with MLA Raja Gill inspects procurement operations at Tanda grain market, Says more than Rs 647 crore disbursed to accounts of farmers'
Adequate arrangements put in place to achieve target of LMT of wheat procurement
Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/April 19
: Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak on Sunday inspected wheat procurement here at local grain market pointing out that more than 28 lakh metric tons of wheat arrived in Mandi’s so far of which over 24 LMT had been procured.
Accompanied by local MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill, the Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak got the crop of farmer Jaila of village Basti procured within two hours of his arrival in the Mandi. He asserted that Punjab farmers would not face any problem in selling the crop as elaborate arrangements had been made in Mandi’s for seamless procurement of wheat. He said that so far more than Rs 647 crore had been disbursed to the accounts of farmers' for their crop as per the minimum support price of Rs 2585. He said that the Punjab government is committed to lifting every single grain of the farmers' crop as CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had already announced a special girdawari to assess the crop damage due to recent unfair weather. The Minister said that the payment is also being disbursed within stipulated time of 48 hours as well as timely lifting from Mandi’s.
The Minister also directed the representatives of the procurement agencies and concerned officers to ensure flawless procurement operations. The cabinet minister also urged the farmers not to burn the crop residue in field in larger public interest and utilise the machinery provided to them by the Agriculture department.
MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill said that the Punjab government would purchase and lift the farmers’ crops in a timely manner. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state government took several pro farmers decisions to facility the farming fraternity. He said that the Punjab government is ensuring timely payments for the purchase of farmers’ crops.
Pertinently, a total 78 mandis have been setup in Hoshiarpur district, of which 65 are permanent and 13 temporary for procurement while a total of 316,000 metric tons of wheat is expected to arrive in the district.
On this occasion, SDM Lovepreet Singh, Chairman of Market Committee Rajwinder Singh, Secretary of Market Committee Harpreet Singh, Deputy Director Food Supply Rajnish Kumari, DFSC Pritakmal Sood were also present.
CAPTION: Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and MLA Jasvir Singh Raja Gill taking stock of procurement operations at Tanda Mandi on Sunday.
