Punjab Minister for Food & Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Lal Chand Kataruchak today visited Khizrabad Grain Mandi of District SAS Nagar and formally kickstarted the wheat procurement in the state of Punjab. He also reviewed the preparations made by the district administration for the procurement, lifting and payment of crops during this wheat season. On this occasion he assured the farmers that every single grain of their wheat crop would be procured and its payment would be made to the farmers within the stipulated time. He said that procurement arrangements have been completed in all the mandis of Punjab and there was no shortage of gunny bags. He appealed to the farmers to bring the dried grains in the mandis so that there would be no hindrance in procurement.
He said that that during this season wheat was being procured through 1862 permanent mandis and 450 temporary mandis across Punjab. He said that the MSP for wheat during Rabi season 2022-23 has been fixed at Rs. 2015 by the Government of India. He said that all the procurement agencies in district SAS Nagar were expected to procure 139055 tonnes of wheat during this season. He said that 15 permanent mandis have been allotted for procurement in SAS Nagar. All the procurement agencies in the mandis have deployed staff as per the policy. He directed the concerned authorities to ensure timely procurement and payment of crops. Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak said that Punjab Government was committed to provide all kind of facilities to the farmers in the mandis. He said that the district administration has also constituted a district level grievance redressal committee to resolve the grievances of the farmers in the mandis in a timely manner. He said that this committee would take immediate action to resolve the grievances of the farmers in the mandis.
Responding to a question of reporters, Mr. Kataruchak said that it was for the first time since 1977 that the people of Punjab from all walks of life had come together to form the Aam Aadmi Party with a thumping majority. He said that as per the dream and conviction of Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Mann we have to make Punjab colorful and leading state of the country again. He said that at present our focus is on the Rabi season and we promise that we will not allow any disturbance to the farmers in the mandis. Earlier, on arrival at Tehsil Complex Mazari, a guard of honor was presented to Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak. Madam Anmol Gagan Mann MLA from Kharar Assembly constituency who was present on the occasion thanked the Minister for coming here. She assured the farmers that there was no shortage of gunny bags in the district and arrangements in the mandis were complete. She said that this time the Aam Aadmi Party government has made strong arrangements and special nakas have been set up at the district boundary so that trucks of wheat from neighboring states could not enter the state. She assured that only the wheat of punjab farmers would be procured in Punjab Mandis. Mr. Abhinav Trikha, Director Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Punjab, Mr. Amit Talwar, Deputy Commissioner SAS Nagar, Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar, Joint Director Procurement, Storage, Mr. Abikesh Gupta, SDM Kharar, Dr. Kimmi Vaneet Kaur Sethi, District Controller Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, and District Managers of all Procurement Agencies were present at the occassion.