Ludhiana, April 6: In another major decision to avoidcrowding in the grain markets for smooth wheat procurement amidst coronavirus,the administration has decided to increase the purchase centres in the districtby creating additional procurement centres along with the existing 108 markets.
Disclosing further details, Deputy Commissioner VarinderKumar Sharma said that the decision has been taken to ensure social distancingstrictly adheres during procurement operations in the grain markets.
He told that around 200 additional purchase centres would becreated by using the temporary yards in the mills to ensure that main grainmarkets remain decongest and remain crowd-free. He said that we have to adhereto social distancing norms strictly for which these extra purchase centreswould be utilized for the procurement.
He said that this is inconsonance of the firm commitment ofthe Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to procure every single grainof the farmers in the markets by keeping these places free of Covid.
Deputy Commissioner said that the wheat procurement wouldstart from April 10 and is expected to be continued till May 31.
He said that around 9 lakh metric ton of grains is expectedin the grain markets for which elaborate arrangements have been made. Sharmasaid that for the purchase of grain grid marking of 30 by 30 feet has been donein the grain markets in which every farmer would unload their produce so thatsocial distancing is strictly followed.
He added that orders have been issued to the officials tophysically inspect the arrangements in the markets to facilitate the farmers,labourers, and others. He said that every single grain of the farmers would beprocured and any kind of callousness would not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, on the directions of Deputy Commissioner, a teamled by District Food and Supply Controller Sukhwinder Singh Gill along withfood inspector Jaswinder Singh Pandher and others took stock of thearrangements in Mullanpur grain market and others.