Ravinder Saini
Tribune News Service
Mahendragarh, May 21
The Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has decided to procure leftover mustard recorded by the Market Committee in three districts — Mahendragarh, Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri. The procurement process came to a halt on May 10.
Sources said the decision had been taken in view of protests by farmers of these districts. Only that produce for which the committee had issued inward gate passes up to May 10 would be procured.
A communiqué in this regard has been sent to the District Food and Supplies Controllers (DFSCs) of these districts.
“It has been reported that the committee had issued inward gate passes for mustard arrival in the mandis of these districts on May 10. However, some quality was not purchased by government agencies. It has now been decided at a meeting with the Chief Minister to purchase leftover mustard recorded by the committee at the MSP for crushing purpose,” states the communiqué.
Sources said the DFSCs had been directed to verify inward gate passes issued in their district and purchase mustard for HAFED at the MSP through commission agents. “No other purchase should be made,” the communiqué adds.
Ashok Yadav, secretary of the District Market Committee, Narnaul, said out of seven grain markets in the district, leftover mustard was available only at the grain market in Satnali town, where the procurement was initiated on Monday following the directions of the state authority.
“Around 2,200 quintal of leftover mustard is likely to be purchased at the Satnali mandi. Of this, 550 quintal was procured on Monday,” said Rahul, a purchaser.
District manager, HAFED, Ram Kanwar said they were assisting Food and Civil Supplies officials in the procurement process.