Fazilka arhtiyas protest delay in payment by govt agencies

Our Correspondent

Fazilka, May 25

Hundreds of commission agents of Fazilka staged a protest in front of the office of the Sub-divisional Magistrate today against the delay in payment for the wheat sold to government agencies. The dharna was led by Arhtiya Association president Kewal Chaudhary.

“Despite the order of the government that the payment of the procured wheat should be made within 72 hours, scores of farmers and commission agents have not been paid their dues amounting to about Rs 85 crore by government procuring agencies in Fazilka even after over a month of purchasing wheat,” said Chaudhary.

Kewal Chaudhary said the government procuring agencies, including Markfed, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Pungrain, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation, Punsup and Food Corporation of India, procured the wheat from Fazilka.

Association president Chaudhary said out of the total balance payment of Rs 85 crore, Markfed alone is liable to pay about Rs 34 crore to the commission agents and the farmers in Fazilka.

Sanjeev Sachdeva, owner of commission firm Milakh Raj Sanjeev Kumar, alleged that he did not receive payment for the wheat sold to Markfed after April 14 due to the “vested interests” of Markfed officials. “My firm’s Rs 18.88 lakh is still due towards Markfed,” rued Sachdeva.

Besides, the commission agents have allegedly not been paid anything as part of commission, lifting, weighing and labour charges.

Vishal Gupta, District Manager (DM), Markfed, said the reason for the delay in payment is that the portal for making online payment was out of order in Chandigarh. “I cannot say when it will start functioning,” said Gupta.