Directing the District Food Supply Controllers (DFSCs) to keep a hawk's eye to ensure that Wheat from outside the State is not sold in the Mandis, the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak emphasized that special vigil be maintained especially in the border districts in this respect. Reiterating the resolve of the State Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to ensure hassle free Wheat procurement season beginning from April 1st, the Minister said that the DFSCs must personally visit the mandis and keep a strict eye to make sure any wrongdoing doesn't happens.
Reviewing the preparations with regard to the upcoming procurement season in a meeting with the DFSCs and senior officers of the department, Mr. Kataruchak further ordered the officers to ensure cleanliness, electricity and clean drinking water arrangements in every mandi. The Minister was apprised that the State has received the Cash Credit Limit (CCL) to the tune of Rs. 30973 Crore for the month of April.
Besides, the State has received the target of procuring 122 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT). However, the department has made comprehensive preparations for procuring 132 LMT. As part of the arrangements, 1897 procurement centres have been notified and proposals for further 266 temporary yards have been received from District Level Procurement Committees (DLPCs). The Minimum Support Price (MSP) has been fixed at Rs. 2585 Per Quintal.
On the issue of gunny bales, the Minister exhorted the DFSCs to entrust the responsibility to Inspectors of ensuring the availability of the same in the mandis. On the issue of storage space, the Minister divulged that the Chief Minister has taken up the matter with the Union Government at regular intervals to speed up the moving of previous seasons' produce from the State to make space for crops of upcoming seasons.
The DFSCs should maintain continuous liaison with the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of their respective districts with regard to storage and keep updating the Headoffice, said Mr. Kataruchak. The Minister further implored upon the officers to foolproof arrangements in respect of tarpaulins, wooden crates in the mandis.
The Minister assured on the issue of Petrol, Diesel and LPG supply and said that the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department is working in tandem with the oil marketing companies to maintain the supply of these items. In this connection, a State level control room no. 0172-2233001 has been operationalized for monitoring the supply and repressing complaints of the public.
Apart from this, District Level Committees have been formed under the Deputy Commissioners to regulate & facilitate the supply of petroleum products. On the occasion, Principal Secretary Rahul Tewari, Director Varinder Kumar Sharma, Additional Directors Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar and Ajayveer Singh Sarao were also present.