The Director, Food and Civil Supplies Mrs. Anindita Mitra today said that the Punjab Government is fully committed to ensure the successful completion of the wheat season and the farmers would not have to face any problem with regard to the payments, lifting and gunny bags (Bardana) during the procurement season.The Director, Food and Civil Supplies was taking stock of the procurement arrangements in the grain markets (mandis) of Hoshiarpur and Garhshankar.Mitra said that the various procurement agencies have procured 89,64,198 metric tonnes of wheat in the mandis of the state. Divulging more, she said that out of the procured wheat, PUNGRAIN has procured 20,48,629 metric tonne, MARKFED 20,61,460 metric tonne, PUNSUP 16,66,522 metric tonne, Punjab State Warehouse Corporation 12,69,373 metric tonne whereas the traders have in private purchased 27,767 metric tonnes of wheat.The Director further said that today payments to the tune of Rs. 1479.97 crore have been made in Punjab whereas the commission agents (arhtiyas) have been paid Rs. 10856.66 crore for procured wheat in Punjab till date. The Director also said that the state government this time has ensured transparency in the transportation tender process attempting to make good the loss incurred to the state in transportation. She also added that wherever the procurement is being done in timely manner, payments are being ensured within 48 hours.Apart from this, gunny bags would be made available and lifting is also being ensured in timely manner.
Mrs. Mitra also elaborated that the state government has made adequate arrangements for storage of grains and no difficulty would be allowed to arise in this regard. She also added that direct lifting to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) in some mandis through 'Specials' is also being undertaken so as to make sure that there is no space constraint in the mandis. She said that the arrangements concerning wheat procurement made by the government are satisfactory and the government has instructed various officers to ensure that there are no hassles regarding procurement.Expressing satisfaction at the purchase of 1,17,893 metric tonnes of wheat in mandis of the Hoshiarpur District till yesterday late evening out of total 1,18,970 metric tonne arrival , the Director instructed the concerned agencies to speed up the lifting. She said that Rs. 130 crore payments (100 percent) have been made to the commission agents whereas 70 percent lifting has been ensured.On the occasion, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mrs. Anupam Kaler, SDM Hoshiarpur Mr. Jitendra Jorwal, SDM Garhshankar Mr. Hardeep Singh Dhaliwal, DFSC Mrs. Rajnish Kaur, District Mandi Officer Mr. Raj Kumar and officers and commission agents of the various procurement agencies were also present.