Procurement agencies served notices over delay in wheat lifting in Fazilka

The Market Committee authorities have issued show-cause and demurrage notices to four procurement agencies for the slow lifting of wheat in different parts of Fazilka district.

According to official information, the Market Committee, Abohar, has issued demurrage notices amounting to nearly Rs 23 lakh to four procurement agencies — Markfed, Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Punsup and Pungrain — which procured wheat from various grain markets.

Similarly, the Fazilka Market Committee has served three notices each to the four procurement agencies through the District Food and Supplies Controller, Fazilka, for failing to lift the procured wheat within the stipulated period.

Market Committee Secretary Mandeep Kamra told The Tribune that demurrage notices were also being prepared for issuance to officials of the procurement agencies in Fazilka.

According to Market Committee sources, as many as 3,86,920 bags of wheat are yet to be lifted from the Fazilka grain market alone, even after more than a month since the commencement of the procurement process. As per norms, the stocks are required to be lifted within 72 hours of procurement.

The wheat stocks are lying in the open, exposed to intense heat and intermittent rain.

Across the district, nearly 20 per cent of the procured wheat is yet to be lifted. Official sources said that out of the total 7,51,113 MT procured, around 1,48,328 MT is still awaiting lifting.

MC Secretary Kamra claimed that the pending wheat stocks would be lifted within the next three to four days.

Sources said a shortage of trucks was the main reason behind the delayed lifting. In violation of prescribed norms, tractor-trailers were also pressed into service due to the shortage of trucks, but the move failed to yield the desired results.