Chandigarh/Kharar (SAS Nagar): The Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak today said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has made comprehensive arrangements to ensure smooth and hassle-free procurement of paddy across the State. He said that the State Government is closely monitoring the procurement process to ensure that farmers do not face any inconvenience at the mandis.
Reviewing the ongoing paddy procurement operations at Kharar grain market, the Minister said that 3.83 lakh metric tonnes of paddy had arrived in mandis across Punjab so far, out of which the State procurement agencies had already procured 3.44 lakh metric tonnes. He said that Rs 188 crore had been paid to farmers against the procured paddy.
The Minister further said that the pace of lifting would be further accelerated in the coming days. He also assured the farmers that there is no shortage of gunny bags and all necessary arrangements had been made to facilitate the procurement process.
Punjab would comfortably achieve the target of procuring 180 lakh metric tonnes of paddy for the Government quota, said Mr. Kataruchak and added that a Cash Credit Limit of Rs. 42,786 crore had already been sanctioned by the Reserve Bank of India, ensuring adequate financial arrangements for procurement operations.
