Punjab CM's envoy reviews wheat procurement arrangements

Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Darbara Singh Guru today started his five-day tour to review and monitor the arrangements of wheat procurement in the state for the Rabi season.

During his visit he would discuss all the necessary arrangements required for smooth procurement of wheat with all the deputy Commissioners and district heads of procurement agencies, so that the farmers of the state face no hardship or inconvenience in the mandis during the procurement season, an official release stated here.

As part of the programme, Guru today held a meeting with the deputy commissioners of Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar districts, district transport officers and district heads of procurement agencies of these districts here this afternoon and reviewed the arrangements for wheat procurement.

He inquired about the status of wheat production in their districts, area under wheat cultivation, expected production, availability of space, transportation and storage arrangements, electricity and water and mechanical process for cleaning of wheat and so on.

He made it clear that no laxity would be tolerated at any level and the deputy commissioners would be held personally responsible for any lapse in their area of jurisdiction.

The deputy commissioners and heads of the agencies informed that all arrangements were being made on war footing for wheat procurement and there was no problem on any front in speedy procurement of wheat in their respective districts.

Guru informed that 3.5 million hectares had been brought under wheat cultivation in the state and likely production of this crop was 15.5 million tonnes.

He said that 11 million tonnes were likely to be procured and the state government was making arrangements for procurement of 11.5 million tonnes. “The state government is very much concerned and in view of this, the arrangements are being monitored two months in advance,” he added.

He said Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had issued directions to all the deputy commissioners to ensure hassle-free procurement and there should be no inconvenience to the farmers in the. All the mandis are being equipped with efficient marketing support infrastructure and it will be ensured that the farmers are given payment on the sale of their wheat produce within 48 hours