DC asks procurement agencies to make necessary arrangements for protection of wheat crop from inclement weather

Ludhiana: In wake of the inclement weather conditions, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma on Saturday asked all the procurement agencies to take necessary steps to ensure that not even a single procured grain is damaged.

Deputy Commissioner expressed concern over the erratic weather conditions prevailing in the district. He said that the procurement of grains is going in a smooth and hassle-free manner but utmost care must be taken to save golden grains.

Sharma said that concerted efforts must also be made to store the procured grains at a safe place in the markets so that no damage is caused to it.

The Deputy Commissioner said that it is the bounden duty of all the officers to preserve the procured food grains aptly as it is now a 'national treasure'.

He said that the officers must visit the mandis and ensure that elaborate arrangement are put in place to protect the grains from the wrath of the bad weather.

He said that during the ongoing Rabi season, more than nine lakhs metric ton wheat was expected in the district and till today, the district has already procured 2.5 lakh MT golden grains.

Deputy Commissioner told that the administration has set up additional 124 purchase centres besides 108 permanent grain markets across the district to purchase the wheat by maintaining the norms of social distancing.

He asked the procurement agencies to ensure the provision of tarpaulins in every grain market of their jurisdiction for covering the food grains from the rain.

Meanwhile, on the directions of Deputy Commissioner, District Food Supply and Controllers Harveen Kaur visited Khanna and Machhiwara grain markets and held meetings with the farmers/commission agents to ensure smooth and hassle-free procurement.