Principal Secretary CM Punjab Visits Various Mandis Of Amritsar And Tarn Taran

Chandigarh, October 6, 2015: Punjab Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Mr.S.K.Sandhu today visited various Mandis of District Amritsar and Tarn Taran to take stock of the procurement process. He was accompanied MD Markfed Mr.Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, MD Warehouse Mr.Arvinder Singh Bains, Secretary Mandi Board Mr.Deepinder Singh and Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts.

Expressing satisfaction over the pace of procurement of 1509 Basmati, Mr. Sandhu directed the procurement agencies to ensure the procurement of this variety of Basmati at Minimum Support Price. He reviewed the procurement progress and spoke to farmers and arthiyas about the procurement operations. Meanwhile, farmers apprised Mr. Sandhu that the procurement was going on smoothly and hassle free manner.

Mr. Sandhu informed that till last evening out of the total arrival of 400000 MT paddy in the mandis of state, 350000 MT paddy has been procured and government procurement agencies have procured 300000 MT of paddy. He said that in Punjab 65000 MT of 1509 Basmati has been procured. Likewise in 56 mandis of district Amritsar till last evening out the total arrival of 39500 MT paddy, 33905 MT paddy has been procured. He said the out of the 33868 MT paddy procured by government procurement agencies, 24995 MT paddy is of 1509 variety. Similarly in 58 different mandis of district Tarn Taran, out of the total arrival of 67650 MT paddy, 57550 MT paddy has been procured. He said the out of the 34498 MT paddy procured by government procurement agencies, 13400 MT paddy is of 1509 variety.

Mr. Sandhu said that the 1509 Basmati procured by different agencies would be stored in the various ware house grain stores.He said all the arrangements to store the crop has been completed.

Mr. Sandhu said that as per the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal farmers interests will be protected at all costs and visit of mandis by senior officers was also part of those directions. He also assured that the incoming variety of Basmati 1509 crop would also be procured without any delay in coming days.

He said that 1509 Basmati crop fallen in the prescribed specifications would be procured immediately. Issuing directions to all officers concerned to ensure their presence in the mandis till the end of procurement operations every day, Mr. Sandhu said that orders for immediate lifting the procured crop have also been issued.

He also asked Deputy Commissioners to personally supervise and monitor the procurement and lifting operations in their respective districts so that farmers could not face any problem.