All necessary arrangements already put in place : Jaspreet Singh

Jalandhar : With expected arrival of nearly 11 lakh metric tonne paddy in mandis, the procurement has been started today in the mandis across district. Deputy Commissioner Jaspreet Singh accompanied by Kartarpur MLA Balkar Singh and Jalandhar West MLA Raman Arora kickstarted the purchase of paddy at local New Grain Market.

While getting the procurement started, Deputy Commissioner Jaspreet Singh said that all requisite arrangements had already been put in place in the mandis as well as availability of sufficient gunny bags for this season.

In the presence of MLAs and Deputy Commissioner, the concerned official purchased the pile of crop brought by farmer Rashpal Singh of Gill village.

Similarly, the procurement was also started in the mandis at Mehatpur, Bhogpur, Shahkot and Kartarpur, where crop of farmers bought in a seamless manner.

Urging farmers to bring paddy as per the specifications within the set moisture limit, Deputy Commissioner mentioned that the paddy would be procured Rs. 2060 per quintal.

He said District Administration was fully geared up to check bogus procurement, if any, and inflow of crop from other states through illegal ways with constituting 12 flying squads in district.

These squads will be led by the Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildar in different market committees namely Jalandhar Cantt, Adampur, Bhogpur, Phillaur, Noormahal, Bilga, Goraya, Shahkot, Lohian Khas, Nakodar and Mehatpur. Jaspreet Singh stated that these teams would oversee all the procurement operations in mandis and report the illegal activities, if found anywhere in the district.

In the room number 14-A of the District Administrative Complex, a control room has also been setup to register complaint regarding bogus procurement, illegal recycling or purchase, said the Deputy Commissioner adding that telephonic complaint can also be registered at phone number 0181-2224417.

Deputy Commissioner also spoke with the farmers in the mandis and apprised them about the arrangements and prepping in the mandis for this season.

He pointed out that there were 78 regular mandis and 28 temporary procurement centers had been established besides ensuring all facilities including availability of potable water, lights at yards, gunny bags, public conveniences and cleanliness for farmers and other stakeholders.

He said that agencies namely Pungrain, Punsup, Markfed, Punjab State Warehouse Corporation and FCI would purchase the crop of farmers. Besides officers of concerned department, District Planning Board’s Chairman Amritpal Singh, AAP leader Rajwinder Kaur were also present.