Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday directed the Deputy Commissioners to undertake extensive field visits for expediting procurement and lifting of paddy.
During a virtual meeting with the Deputy Commissioners, the Chief Minister said that with advent of KMS 2024-25 the arrival of paddy in Mandis has enhanced. He said that farmers should not be allowed to face any sort of inconvenience in selling their produce. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that DCs should personally ensure smooth and hassle-free procurement of grains and no stone should be left unturned for it.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is expected to procure 185 LMT paddy to be brought into mandis by farmers during the procurement Season. He said that 32 Lakh hectares of area was currently under paddy cultivation in the state adding that Punjab is targetting procurement of 185 Lakh Metric Tonnes of paddy. Bhagwant Mann said that CCL to the tune of Rs. 41,378 Crores for KMS 2024-25 has already been released by the RBI.
The Chief Minister categorically said that any sort of laxity in procurement and lifting was totally unwarranted and undesirable. He said that the produce of farmers’ need to be purchased and lifted at the earliest to facilitate them. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government is firmly committed to the smooth and hassle free procurement of paddy and officers are duty-bound to make every effort to ensure that the government’s decision is duly implemented.
The Chief Minister also asked the Deputy Commissioners to visit 7-8 mandis daily to take stock of the entire operations at ground level. He said that the officers must undertake regular visits in the grain markets under their jurisdiction and submit the daily report for regular monitoring. Bhagwant Mann also asked them to minutely observe the procurement operations so as to ensure that the stocks of grains do not pile up in the market and its prompt lifting was ensured at the earliest.
The Chief Minister further asked the officers/ officials to keep him updated regarding the procurement operations by submitting the daily report of arrival, purchase and payment of paddy crop to him personally. Bhagwant Mann said that the state government has already made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the harvest of farmers was lifted from the grain markets in a smooth, timely and hassle free manner. He reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to ensure that farmers do not face any sort of problem while selling their produce.
