Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu visited Talwandi Sabo to review the ongoing wheat procurement. On his maiden visit to Talwandi Sabo, the Minister stated that the Captain Amarinder Singh led Congress government was committed to procure every grain of the priceless yield of farmers.Minister for Food and Civil Supplies stated that for this season, the FCI has planned 400 special trains for loading procured wheat from grain markets to other states for the months of April and May 2018. The Punjab government has written to Chief Managing Director, FCI stating that keeping larger interests of farmers in mind, more special trains should be run so that procured wheat can be lifted in time.He added that till Tuesday evening, 2018 91 Lacs MT wheat crop has reached the grain markets of state of which 89.36 lacs MT has been procured. Around 65 percent of the crop has already been lifted from the grain markets while work on lifting rest is going on at full swing. He added that around 130 LMT of wheat is expected to reach grain markets in the state.The procured wheat is being stored at the godowns of state procurement agencies as well as that of Food Corporation of India (FCI). Besides this, arrangements have been made to directly send procured wheat directly from grain markets to other states so that there is not glut like situation in Punjab.Answering a media query, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies stated that till April 24, Rs 10856 cr payments have been transferred to the accounts of commission agents across the state.On his arrival at Talwandi Sabo, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies was accorded Guard of Honor.Thereafter, he visited the grain markets of Talwandi Sabo and Raman Mandi. Addressing the media persons he stated that procurement, lifting and payments in state were being done on time to ensure smooth procurement.Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Mr Diprava Lakra, SSP Bathinda Mr Naveen Singla, SDM Talwandi Sabo Mr Varinder Singh, senior Congress leader Mr Khushbaj Jatana, Talwandi Sabo nagar council president Mr Gurpreet Singh Manshahia and others were also present.