Punjab Irrigation Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon today issued strict instructions to staff of all procurement agencies to lift the paddy crop arriving in the grain markets of the district on time. Mr Dhillon today visited the grain markets of the district and supervised the paddy procurement process. He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, Mr Rajat Aggarwal."The state government has made arrangements to ensure hassle-free procurement in the state. Strict instructions have been issued that payments to the farmers should also be made on time," said Mr Dhillon while speaking to media persons while supervising the paddy procurement arrangements at Sahnewal Grain Market, today.
Accompanied by a battery of district administration and other government officials, the minister visited the grain markets at Sahnewal, Koom Kalan, Dhanansu and Khasi Kalan today.Dhillon also interacted with the farmers and urged them to bring only the ripened crop to the grain markets if they want proper rates. "I have appealed to the farmers that their crop which they bring to the grain markets should have minimal moisture content. This way, they would get a better rate," said the minister. He also pulled up some erring officials and asked them to speed up the procurement process so that the farmers don't face any problem.
The minister said that the state government is eyeing to procure 140 MT of paddy crop this year. "The Punjab government has made all out efforts to ensure smooth, hassle free and quick procurement of Paddy on one hand and facilitate the farmers in getting timely payment of their produce on the other." He categorically said that farmers of the state should not be put to any inconvenience for the sale of their produce in the mandis.The minister was accompanied by Mr Santa Singh Umedpuri, chairman, Subordinate Services Board Punjab, Mr Bhag Singh Mangarh, chairman, Zila Parishad, Ludhiana, besides several others.
The government and private agencies have procured 116603 tonnes of paddy out of total arrival of 122997 tonnes in 13 grain markets of the district till October 16, 2014. The arrival of paddy in Ludhiana grain market is 8938 tonnes and procurement is 8177, in Khanna Mandi arrival is 57975 tonnes and procurement is 57630 tonnes, in Sahnewal arrival is 5950 tonnes and procurement is 5504, in Samrala arrival is 9300 tonnes and procurement is 8764 tonnes, in Machhiwara arrival is 15313 tonnes and procurement is 14087 tonnes, in Doraha arrival is 4976 tonnes and procurement is 4806, in Malaud arrival is 2014 tonnes and procurement is 1654 tonnes, in Kila Raipur arrival is 1426 tonnes and procurement is 1060, in Jagraon arrival is 4931 tonnes and procurement is 4478 tonnes, in Dakha arrival is 7267 tonnes and procurement is 6718 tonnes, in Raikot arrival is 3103 tonnes and procurement is 2913 tonnes, in Hathur arrival is 78 tonnes and procurement is 43 and in Sidhwan Bet grain market the arrival is 1726 tonnes and procurement is 769 tonnes.