Guidelines violated, Malerkotla village turns into purchase centre

Though reports of tardy paddy procurement are coming from across the state, influential farmers of Dhaler village are allegedly selling their produce from their premises.

Showing ignorance about the anomalous functioning at grain markets in the district, SDM Harbans Singh said strict action would be taken in case any government official was found violating the Agricultural Product Marketing Committee Act.

“The process of procurement, lifting and payment of paddy brought at the grain markets is being monitored closely by Deputy Commissioner Pallvi. No such complaint has been received so far. However, we will get the matter probed and strict action will be taken against anyone found violating government instructions,” said the SDM.

A visit to Dhaler village revealed that several farmers had dumped their produce in front of their houses and other premises. While a large number of farmers had to spend sleepless nights near their heaps in mandis, produce of more influential farmers was being procured from their homes.

The entire village presented a look of an extended yard of a grain market run by government agencies.

Farm leader Amarjit Singh Dhaler alleged that the procurement agencies had been harassing peasants on flimsy grounds as majority of the producers were not conversant with modes of measuring standards and specifications of the commodity.

Dhaler said a nexus existed between procurement agency officials, commission agents and rice millers. In some cases, the officials were allegedly allowing commission agents and rice millers to impose 2 kg to 5 kg cut per bag after receiving facilitation charges, he said.