Amritsar, April 22: Punjab’s Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Lal Chand Kataruchak, conducted a field review of wheat procurement operations at Amritsar’s Bhagtanwala Grain Market on Wednesday. Accompanied by local legislators and procurement officials, the Minister interacted with farmers and laborers to ensure that the government’s commitment to purchasing every grain at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is being upheld on the ground.
During the visit, Kataruchak affirmed that despite recent adverse weather conditions, Punjab is well-positioned to contribute its assigned target of 122 lakh metric tonnes to the central food pool. He stated that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has implemented foolproof arrangements across all mandis to prevent any inconvenience to the farming community.
Data released during the review indicates that approximately 61 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have arrived in markets statewide, with 56 lakh metric tonnes already successfully procured. The Minister declared that payments are being processed with high efficiency, noting that ₹7,109 crore has already been credited to farmers’ accounts within the mandatory 24-hour window. He maintained that agencies have been strictly directed to prioritize the timely lifting of purchased stock to maintain space in the yards.
In Amritsar specifically, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rohit Gupta affirmed that over 2.41 lakh metric tonnes of the 2.64 lakh metric tonnes received have been procured as of Tuesday evening. To safeguard the produce against unpredictable rain, Kataruchak issued instructions to commission agents and officials to ensure a sufficient supply of tarpaulins and crates. He asserted that no laxity would be tolerated in the procurement process and that administrative oversight will continue until the season concludes.
