Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Maan led Punjab Government is committed to procure the paddy crop in a hassle-free manner from the Mandis across the state, said Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister , Lal Chand Kataruchak at Kharar Mandi today.
He said that to make the procurement operation uninterrupted, 1854 Mandis have been set up in the state and simultaneous lifting arrangements have been done. He said that as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, no farmer would be let to spend a single night in Mandi to sell Paddy crop.
"So far 7.73 lakh MT of paddy has arrived in the grain markets of Punjab, out of which 7.25 lakh MT has been purchased. Further, 3 lakh MT of paddy has been lifted besides making a payment of Rs 392 Crore to the accounts of farmers", he added.Minister Kataruchak further said that the government has arranged a CCL of over Rs 37 thousand crore to make the same day payment.
Besides, there is adequate stock of gunny bags in the Mandis. He added that during the previous regimes, farmers had to spend endless nights in grain markets to sell their crops even during festival season like Diwali and Dussehra, but the Bhagwant Singh Mann led government has strictly asked the officials that farmers will not be allowed to spend nights in grain markets.
He said that the duties of officials and employees of the relevant departments have been assigned to check the moisture content of the crops coming to be sold in the markets.The Cabinet Minister said that the government has also installed inter-state gates to prevent the crop coming from outside states to be sold in Punjab, where 24-hour duties of officials have been imposed.
He appealed to the farmers of the state that the crop should be brought to the grain markets after being completely dried. Similarly, disposal of paddy stubble should be done without setting on fire with the help of Crom Residue Management Machinery.
Cabinet Minister Mr. Kataruchak said that all the government officials have been asked to personally visit the grain markets and monitoring the procurement so that the farmers do not face any kind of trouble. He said that Punjab government is well aware of the needs of farmers and farmers will not be allowed to face any difficulties.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) Damanjit Singh Mann, Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Mann's father Mr. Jodha Singh Mann, officials of various departments were present on this occasion.