States: The Modi government must not shirk its responsibilities and must ensure the immediate lifting of grain.
120.18 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have arrived in the mandis; 119.12 lakh metric tonnes have been procured.
Chandigarh 4 May ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Harchand Singh Barsat, Chairman of the Punjab Mandi Board, stated that under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, wheat procurement operations are proceeding smoothly thanks to the robust arrangements made in the state's mandis. So far, 120.18 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have arrived in the state's mandis, out of which 119.12 lakh metric tonnes have already been procured. Payments for the crops are also being disbursed to the farmers; however, the Modi-led Central Government is shirking its responsibilities and displaying negligence regarding the lifting of the procured grain. Due to the flawed policies of the Central Government, heaps of crops have piled up in Punjab's mandis today, and the harvest—nurtured by farmers with the same care they would give their own children—is being left to languish.
He further remarked that the Central Government is making continuous attempts to destabilize the atmosphere in Punjab, and it is precisely due to the Centre's step-motherly treatment that issues are arising regarding the lifting of wheat from Punjab's mandis. The Modi government at the Centre has already withheld Punjab's Rural Development Fund and is now failing to lift the procured crops. All warehouses and rice shellers in Punjab are overflowing with grain, the shifting of which is being delayed by the Central Government. Consequently, grain is lying exposed and vulnerable in the mandis, and due to adverse weather conditions, the crops are getting soaked in the rain. This situation is causing distress to everyone involved. He asserted that while the Punjab government has implemented robust arrangements within the mandis, should the procured wheat get damaged by rain due to inclement weather, the sole responsibility for such loss will lie with the Central Government. He appealed to the Central Government to ensure the immediate lifting of the grain so that relief may be provided to all stakeholders.
He added that Punjab Chief Minister S. Under the leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann, robust arrangements have been put in place to ensure the smooth conduct of wheat procurement operations across the state's mandis (grain markets). Comprehensive provisions have been made within the mandis regarding sanitation, drinking water, restrooms, shade, seating facilities, and other amenities, ensuring that farmers, commission agents (Arhtiyas), and laborers do not face any difficulties whatsoever. The Punjab Mandi Board has designated a total of 1,896 mandis for the purpose of wheat procurement; this figure comprises 153 main yards, 288 sub-yards, and 1,455 procurement centers. Additionally, taking into account the volume of incoming wheat arrivals, 986 temporary mandis have also been designated.
He stated that, to date, 120.18 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have arrived in the mandis, and 119.12 lakh metric tonnes have been procured, out of which 68.81 lakh metric tonnes have already been lifted (transported). He further informed that on May 3rd, the state's mandis witnessed an arrival of 94,736 metric tonnes of wheat, while 1.17 lakh metric tonnes were procured. Payments amounting to approximately ₹27,343.09 crore have already been disbursed directly into the bank accounts of the farmers. S. Barasat further detailed that government agencies have procured 117.75 lakh metric tonnes of wheat; specifically, Pungrain procured 38,51,335 metric tonnes, the FCI procured 2,37,447 metric tonnes, Markfed procured 30,33,077 metric tonnes, Punsup procured 27,44,949 metric tonnes, and the Warehouse Corporation procured 19,07,852 metric tonnes. Concurrently, 1,37,328 metric tonnes of wheat have been procured by private entities.

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