Chandigarh, October 2
Though the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, has convened a special meeting to review paddy procurement operations, the issue, besides distress sale of cotton, may figure prominently at the Punjab Council of Ministers meeting here tomorrow.
Not only ministers but members of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) are unhappy over the manner in which the procurement agencies, especially the Food Corporation of India, have shown reluctance to buy paddy on the pretext of high moisture content and discolouration of grains.
The Punjab Government has requested the Union Food Ministry for relaxation in procurement norms, maintaining that a slightly high moisture content and discolouration of husk was because of inclement weather at the time of harvesting.
Punjab officials maintain that discolouration was of the husk alone and not of the grain. Instructions have been issued to the
procurement staff that at the time of procurement they should peel off the husk and if the grain is normal, the produce should be procured.
A review meeting was held by the Principal Secretary, Food, Dr B.C. Gupta, today in which officials of all procurement agencies, including the Food Corporation of India, participated.
It was explained at the meeting that of the total 17.4 lakh tonnes of paddy that had arrived in the grain markets so far, nearly 14.52 lakh tonnes had been procured.
Though scientists of Punjab Agricultural University continue to maintain that damage to
paddy because of inclement weather is nominal, problems faced by farmers in the grain markets are enormous.
The ruling party claims that ever since the Congress came to power in Punjab, procurement operations have remained smooth and flawless. With the Assembly elections less than 18 months away, the government does not want to falter on the procurement front now.
The Chief Minister is expected to take up the issue of relaxation in the paddy procurement criteria with the Union Food Minister, Mr Sharad Pawar. One of the reasons being given for the tardy procurement of paddy is the internal problems in the Food Corporation of India. There have been frequent changes at the top in the Punjab regional office.
After Mr K. Sivaprasad, a Punjab-cadre IAS officer, relinquished charge, Mr T.C. Gupta, an IAS officer of Haryana, was given the additional charge of Senior Regional Manager, Punjab. Later, Mr S.S. Bhatoa of the FCI cadre replaced him. But just before the procurement operations could start, Mr Gupta was again given the additional charge.
