Paddy purchase on in Fatehgarh Sahib, claims DC; arhtiyas differ

The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Sona Thind, said the procurement of paddy has been started in the district. She said the officials of the procurement agency, Markfed, procured the heap of paddy from Gurmeet Singh at the Amloh grain market. However, the District President of the Arhtiyas Association refuted the claim.

The DC said procurement of paddy had begun in the district, adding that all arrangements for the smooth procurement process at all 32 centres in the district had been completed. She appealed to all the farmers, commission agents, labourers, rice millers to cooperate with the administration to ensure the procurement of paddy was completed smoothly. She urged all farmers to be paddy as per specifications, adding that every grain would be procured if instructions were followed. She appealed to farmers not to burn paddy stubble.

The district president of the Commission Agents Association, Sadhu Ram Bhatmajra, said only one heap of paddy was forcibly procured by Markfed; however, the commission agent did not give any bill. He said they would continue their strike and no paddy would be procured till their demands were met. He said commission agents at all grain markets across the district were on strike.