Wheat procurement reaches 13 lakh tonnes in Haryana

Over 13 lakh tonnes of wheat has so far arrived in Haryana during the current procurement season.
Every day, about three lakh tonnes of wheat was being procured by the procuring agencies in the state, it was informed in a meeting held here by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to review the arrangements made by different agencies.
There were 372 'mandis' in the state and the payment to the farmers were being made within 48 hours of the procurement of wheat, the Chief Minister was told.
Hooda directed all the officials concerned in the state to visit 'mandis' in their districts to ensure early lifting of wheat and send a detailed report to chief secretary in this regard on a daily basis.

The Chief Minister said the concerned Deputy Commissioners would also depute senior officers of HCS level, District Development and Panchayat Officer (DDPO), District Revenue Officer (DRO) posted in the district and assign them specific mandis to daily monitor the arrangement of procurement.
He made it clear that if the farmers and 'arhtiyas' (commission agents) face any difficulty, the Deputy Commissioners and the concerned officers would be held responsible.

While taking cognizance of certain complaints regarding charging money by some contractors from 'arhtiyas' and farmers in lieu of early lifting of their produce from the 'mandis' in Kaithal and Kurukshetra districts, Hooda ordered a departmental inquiry into the matter and said that stern action would be taken against those who are found guilty of this malpractice.

Meanwhile, Hooda directed the officers of Food and Supplies Department to ensure combined distribution of wheat, 'dal' (pulses) and sugar to eligible beneficiaries under the Food Security Act from July 1, 2014.
Presiding over a separate meeting here today to review the implementation of the Food Security Act, Hooda said that separate instructions would be issued to the depot holders in this regard.
These items would not be distributed separately and would be given in one go from July 1 for the convenience of the beneficiaries, he added.