DC for sale of veggies by farmers directly in mandi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 2

As arhtiyas today announced to lodge a protest and strike work in the subzi mandi at Maqsudan from tomorrow onwards, the district administration today warned them against any such move while also planning an alternative to rope in farmers directly for sale of vegetables in the market.

The arhtiyas are annoyed with the administration over the suspension of licences of five shop owners in the mandi after they refused to accept the directions to shift their stalls of tomatoes to the backyard of the mandi. The directions had been issued to ensure that there was no rush in the main mandi area for grabbing tomatoes and the social distancing norm was maintained amid the coronavirus scare.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder K Sharma said he had only temporarily suspended licences and not cancelled them but the arhtiyas remained adamant and decided to hold a protest against the administration.

The DC has today warned them of not resorting to any such pressure tactic and said: “These are not routine days. We are amid a curfew and making restrictions to ward off the pandemic. What if anyone contracts the disease from the mandi and then further spreads the same to families of buyers and sellers”.

But as the arhtiyas refused to budge, the DC took a strong stand and announced that he could even bypass them and go for his plan B of roping in farmers directly in the mandi and breaking the nexus of arhtiyas to ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities such as vegetables and fruits to residents. Attempting to break the cartel of arhtiyas and jacking up of prices, the administration has also been daily issuing price list of vegetables and fruits at which these items are to be sold.

Sharma today categorically said if anyone would try to disrupt or paralyse the supply of these goods in this hour of crisis, then severe action would be taken against him.

He said the administration would not sit idle and watch theatricals of any person who was thinking of personal gain in this situation. They would face strict action by the administration.

The Deputy Commissioner said any sort of hoarding and profiteering would not be tolerated. He warned hoarders and profiteers that any malpractice in the district would be dealt with an iron hand, adding that nobody would be allowed to take law in their hands.

Sharma said severe action would be taken against people flouting norms in the larger public interest.

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