DC inspects grain markets, directs agencies to focus on lifting process

Deputy Commissioner Ambala Parth Gupta today visited various grain markets of the district and directed the procurement agencies to focus on lifting process along with procurement.

‘Ensure timely payment to farmers’

Farmers are reaching grain markets with their produce, so the procurement agencies have been directed to expedite the lifting process and also ensure timely payment of the produce. If any negligence is found in lifting and payment, appropriate action will be initiated against the agency’s officials. All efforts are being made to ensure that the farmers and commission agents don’t face any inconvenience during the procurement season in Ambala.  — Parth Gupta, Deputy Commissioner

As per the district administration, till Sunday, over 2.45 lakh MT paddy stocks had arrived at 15 grain markets and purchase centres of Ambala, of which, over 1.42 lakh MT had been procured. Of the total procured stocks, over 42,766 MT stocks had been lifted from the grain markets and purchase centres.

During the visit, the DC met farmers and commission agents and enquired about the problems they had been facing.

At the Ambala City grain market, the DC checked the moisture content of the arrived stocks and enquired about the arrival and lifting. Meanwhile, the farmers said the procurement process should be improved so that they didn’t have to wait for long to sell their produce.

At the Ambala Cantonment grain market, the farmers apprised the DC about the delay in the payment following which the DC directed the procurement agency officials to clear the payments of the farmers as per the norms. Parth Gupta checked the stocks that had arrived and also directed the officials to improve the lifting process.

Meanwhile, at the Saha grain market, the farmers and commission agents informed the DC about the poor drainage issue of the grain market. Following the complaint, the DC directed the officials to prepare a proposal for the permanent solution of the drainage issue. The DC also inspected the gate passes being issued at the Saha grain market and took feedback from the farmers who had reached there to get the gate passes for their produce. The farmers also informed the DC about the issue of theft and delayed lifting in the grain market.

The Deputy Commissioner said, “The farmers are reaching the grain markets with their produce, hence the procurement agencies have been directed to expedite the lifting process and also ensure timely payment of the produce. If any negligence is found in the lifting and payment, appropriate action will be initiated against the agency’s officials. All efforts are being made to ensure that the farmers and commission agents don’t face any inconvenience during the procurement season in Ambala.”