The Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday digitally launched the Inter-State Basmati Movement portal emandikaran-pb.in in order to stop influx of paddy-parmal from outside that is hampering procurement operations on MSP across the State.The move is aimed to allow free movement of Basmati into the State and alleviate any hardship being faced by genuine Basmati Rice Shellers besides GPS monitoring of Basmati Trucks – would help state to identify the genuine operators without impacting their daily operations.The Portal will show the GPS enabled movement of Basmati Trucks in the State. Any real time deviation from the route can be easily checked and access to the portal/App will be through a unique Login ID/Password. The Officers would enforce/check the mills this through the specific login IDs provided.Chairing a meeting with the representatives of rice shellers and arhtiya associations from across the State, the Chief Minister also said that Punjab being an agrarian state, the role of rice shellers and the arthiyas assumes great significance as they are closely connected with the agriculture.
Assuring the rice mill owners and the arthiyas of fulsome support and cooperation from the Government, the Chief Minister exhorted them to meticulously adhere to the requisite standards with regard to checking the prescribed limit of moisture before the produce is brought into the markets.Lauding the associations in extending support during the current procurement season, the Chief Minister further said that the unnecessary harassment to the rice mill owners at the hands of labour inspectors would not be tolerated at any cost. “If anyone asks for bribe straightaway come to me”, asserted the Chief Minister who however also asked them to declare their balance stock so as to make sure that they don’t have to face vigilance cases.Pointing out further, the Chief Minister also acceded to the proposal mooted by the associations to go for solar electricity besides assuring them to get their other demands examined.Among others present on the occasion included the Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Randeep Singh Nabha, Transport Minister Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Chief Secretary Anirudh Tiwari, MD PSPCL A. Venu Prasad, Principal Secretary to CM Hussan Lal, Special Principal Secretary to CM Rahul Tewari, Secretary Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Gurkirat Kirpal Singh and Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Ravi Bhagat.