Ludhiana, September 17
In order to ensure smooth paddy procurement, Mr Anurag Verma, Deputy Commissioner, presided over meetings of arhtiyas, sheller owners, transporters and labourers at Bachat Bhavan here today. He directed officers concerned to complete all formalities at the earliest.
Mr Verma told arhtiyas to keep with them tarpaulin sheets to meet any kind of eventuality in case of rain and sufficient number of machines for the fast completion of cleaning process of paddy. He asked them to make arrangements for the efficient filling, stitching and lifting of paddy purchased at their shops to make space for the fresh arrival.
On the demand of arhtiyas of the Khanna mandi for repairing all approach roads to the mandi, Mr Verma said the administration had already decided to repair the roads before the procurement start.
Mr Ram Saroop Sharma and Mr Nirmal Sofat assured Mr Verma that arhtiyas would cooperate with the administration in this regard. They also apprised Mr Verma of their problems.
At another meeting, Mr Verma asked sheller owners to ensure sufficient and safe space for the storage of paddy. He also told them to ensure the highest possible price for the paddy below the fixed specification purchased by them direct from the farmers, so that the farmers could get justified price. He said the administration would depute its representatives in all mandis to check the distress sale of paddy.
Mr Gurdial Singh and Mr Hari Om assured the Deputy Commissioner that fully cooperation would be given to the government agencies. They demanded that at the time of lifting of paddy, employees of the agency should be present to ensure correct weight.
Mr Verma said during the entire procurement season, he would daily hold meetings with officers concerned to sort out problems cropped up in the operation.
While addressing the meeting of transporters and representatives of labour associations, he called upon them to ensure the efficient lifting of paddy. He asked the Food Corporation of India to request the higher authorities to start special trains for transportation of rice from Jagraon.
Mr Verma said the administration had already made foolproof arrangements for the purchase of paddy in all 99 mandis in the district. The heads of the procurement agencies informed that they had procured sufficient number of gunny bags and made arrangements for the proper storage.
Giving details of the expected paddy arrival, Mr Verma said the total production of paddy from 23,4000 hectare was expected to be 15.8 lakh metric tonne and out of which 14.75 lakh metric tonne was expected to be purchased. The tentative date fixed for the procurement is October 1, he said.
He said the Centre had fixed the procurement prices for paddy at Rs 580 for ‘A’ grade and Rs 550 for ‘B’ grade, which were Rs 20 higher than the last year’s MSP. He said the FCI had been allotted 35 mandis; the Punsup 14; the Markfed 13; Pungrain 8; Punjab Agro 3; and Punjab Warehousing Corporation 2. In 25 mandis, more than one agencies would make the procurement. He said that Food and Supplies Department would work as a nodal agency to ensure the proper arrangements.
Mr Verma said the FCI would purchase 3.59 lakh mt, the Punsup 2.90 lakh mt, Markfed 2.49 lakh mt, Pungrain 1.72 lakh mt, Punjab Agro 1.60 lakh mt, Warehousing Corporation 1.06 lakh mt and the private millers 1.53 lakh mt.
