Can’t procure wheat till norms relaxed, says committee

Perneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 24

With government agencies failing to start the procurement of wheat here today due to specification issues, farmers have hit out against both the Union and state governments, blaming them for their woes.

The Food Grain Agency Employees Coordination Committee has stated that the quality of wheat has suffered badly due to unseasonal rains.

“The wheat crop arriving in the grain markets has higher moisture content and the grain is far more damaged, discoloured or shrivelled than the specifications laid down by the government. Until the specifications are further relaxed and written instructions are issued about the same, the government agencies will not be able to procure wheat,” stated a release issued by them.

The committee also cautioned that if any of the agencies or its employees are pressured at the time of procurement, they would stop the purchase in that district, for which the district administration would be responsible.

On the other hand, Deputy Commissioner Ravi Bhagat said he was holding talks with the officials concerned and the matter would be sorted out soon.

He said though the moisture content had come down, they were facing problems such as discolouration and loss of texture of grain.

Later, committee member Balbir Singh said meetings held today to resolve the issue remained inconclusive. He said they would resume efforts for the same tomorrow.