Transporters’ strike
Punjab directive to DFSCs
Tribune News Service

ROPAR, Oct 19 — The Punjab government has directed to all District Food and Supply Controllers (DFSCs) in the state to coordinate with district Magistrates to ensure smooth supply of essential commodities to the public during the period of strike by transporters starting from October 21.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Mandan Mohan Mittal, Food and Civil Supplies Minister, said the government would take all necessary steps to ensure the smooth supply of essential commodities and petroleum products like the cooking gas, kerosene, diesel and petrol.

The said the government would take preventive measures to check hoarding. The government had made arrangements for lifting paddy from grain markets during the strike period.

The minister said he would talk to the top management of the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for procurement of paddy from the grain markets as per the arrangements between the state government agencies and the FCI at the ratio of 60 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.

He said the FCI had so far procured 28 per cent paddy against its quota of 40 per cent while the state agencies had procured 72 per cent of paddy against their quota of 60 per cent.Mr Mittal said Sangrur district was on the top in procurement activities. It had so far procured 12 lakh tonnes of paddy while Ferozepore district was number two with 11 lakh tonnes.

Ludhiana and Patiala districts had procured 9 lakh tonnes each so far.The Deputy Commissioner, Mr K.S. Sidhu, has ordered the police to provide security to the petrol stations and for transportation of petroleum products as per the demand of the petroleum dealers.

Mr Sidhu issued this order after holding a meeting with representatives of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and petroleum products’ dealers to ensure the supply of petroleum products in the district here yesterday. Representatives of the paddy procurement agencies also participated.

The Deputy Commissioner also assured that the administration would make security arrangements for the tankers and other vehicles to be deployed for the transportation of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas so that the consumers could get petroleum products in a smooth manner.

He also warned the dealers not to indulge in hoarding. He appealed to the people not to store petroleum products to create artificial scarcity.

Mr Sidhu also reviewed the lifting of paddy from the grain markets and directed the various procurement agencies to ensure regular lifting of daily procured paddy.

The meeting was also attended by Mr Sumesh Jhingan, Coordinator of the IOC for Ropar district, Mr Rattan Singh, president of the District Petrol Pump Dealers Association, the SDM, the DTO and the DFSC.