Will procure every single grain: Deputy Chief Minister

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 22

Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said the state government had given permission to industries for starting operations in the state by accommodating labour on the premises and maintaining social distancing. He said liquor vends would be opened in the state in keeping with the directions of the Centre.

Addressing a press conference, Dushyant said while maintaining social distancing, the procurement was on in the state. He said the state government had already accepted most of the demands of the arhtiyas. He said therewas not any limit fixed by the government for bringing wheat to the markets.

He said the state government had neither cancelled any licence of the arhtiyas nor made any kind of pressure. He said Punjab and Haryana were the only states where wheat procurement was being carried out on a massive level.

Under fire for trying to open liquor vends mid-way through the lockdown, Dushyant said the government would await the Centre’s directions and decide to open vends based on the decision taken by the states. “The police have done a good job in checking bootlegging. The Excise Department has conducted raids, we are keeping an eye on stocks with the licencees and 12 of them have been issued notices for any shortage. We will even ban them if they are found to be involved in any irregularities.”

On resuming of industrial operations, Dushyant said the construction units, which have a workforce of 31,000, had also been accorded permission to start the operations with the strict compliance of social distancing, and ensuring regular sanitisation of premises, hand washing facilities, masks and accommodation to the workers. It has also accorded permission to brick-kilns that follow the NGT guidelines, he said.

He said small industries, which have up to five labourers, were being given permission by the BDPOs, while the SDMs were giving nod to industries with workforce up to 25 and larger units by the DC. He also urged the Centre to announce special package for labourers in the state.