Lift paddy within 48 hours of purchase, DC orders

Our Correspondent

Phagwara, October 17

The Deputy Commissioner (DC), Jalandhar, Varinder Kumar Sharma, today said zero-tolerance policy would be adopted by the district administration if the lifting of paddy crop during the ongoing procurement season was not done within 48 hours.

The Deputy Commissioner, who undertook a visit to Goraya and Phillaur grain markets, to oversee the procurement operations, categorically said any sort of laxity in performing the duty was unwarranted and undesirable.

He said the produce of farmers need to be purchased and lifted at the earliest to facilitate them, adding that every effort must be made to ensure that paddy procurement must be smooth and hassle-free.

The DC said he had already asked the Sub- Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Heads of the procurement agencies to maximise the field visits to take stock of the operations at the ground level.

He said the officials had been directed to undertake regular visits of the grain markets falling under their jurisdiction, and submit the daily report to him for regular monitoring. Sharma said the entire procurement operations were being minutely observed so as to ensure that the stocks of grains did not pile-up in the markets and its prompt lifting was ensured at the earliest.

The DC reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to lift every single grain of paddy in a smooth and hassle-free manner during the ongoing marketing season.