85K MT wheat awaits lifting; arhtiyas plagued

Our Correspondent

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Fatehgarh Sahib, May 11

The arrival of wheat in grain markets has slowed down, as a majority of farmers have sold their produce. However, tardy lifting of procured wheat is causing inconvenience to commission agents, as the accountability rests with them till the time the produce reaches godowns.

As per figures available till the filing of this report 2,08,522 MT of wheat has arrived at 33 procurement centres in the district, of which 2,07,394 MT has been purchased and only 1,22,291 MT has been lifted.

Among the procurement agencies, Pungrain has purchased 41,427 MT, Markfed 51,835 MT, Punsup 48,148 MT, Warehouse 33,353 MT, FCI 32,549 MT, whereas private traders 82 MT.

Sadhu Ram Bhatmajra, district president, Arthiya Association, said there was no hassle during the procurement stage, but due to slow lifting more than 50 per cent of the produce had been lying in the open at the grain markets. He urged the administration to speed up the lifting process to save the produce from rotting.

DC Amrit Kaur Gill said wheat procurement process was likely to get completed soon. It had been procured in record time without any problem. Payment of Rs325 crore had been made to the farmers.

On tardy lifting, she said the problem would be resolved soon.

District Food and Civil Supplies Controller Ravinder Kaur said non-availability of skilled labourers, rain on every alternate day and loading of grains in special goods trains were the main causes behind tardy lifting. Contractors had been directed to deploy more labourers and the remaining procured wheat would be lifted soon, said Kaur.