Punjab Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Wednesday made it clear that there was no shortage of bardana (bales) in the mandis at all. Outrightly rejecting the media reports regarding non-availability of bales with procurement agencies as “malicious propaganda”, the Minister claimed that the State already has stocked enough bardana for the season.
“Tendering for bardana procurement is a continuous process which starts much before the season as part of planning and goes on as and when needed arises as one cannot be sure of full quantity receipt through one tender only,” the Minister pointed out adding that the last tender floated on April 12 was necessitated only because permission from the Centre to use used bags was received very late.
We have already got jute bales indented through the Jute Commissioner and NAFED, said Ashu adding that PP bales are also being received from various HDPE or PP bag suppliers. “This in addition to the permission to use good quality used bags, already received by the State from Government of India on April 12,” he pointed out, hitting out at those trying to create an issue where none exists.
Pointing out that season is already in full swing with farmers bringing their crops to mandis, Ashu said that as on Tuesday, 5,44,334 MTs of wheat has been already been procured in the mandis of the State by the procurement agencies out of which 44,728 MT has been procured under DCP for distribution in the State under Smart Ration Card Scheme.
Urging all the farmers to follow all health advisories as a safeguard against COVID, the Minister said that due arrangements have been made to ensure that farmers bring their produce in a staggered way as per token issued by Mandi Board Punjab so that COVID-19 protocol can be maintained in order to curb the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have already received a Cash Credit Limit of Rs 21,658.73 crore and online payment has already been started. Lifting wheat from mandis is also going on smoothly and as on April 13, 2021, we have already lifted 39,285 MT wheat against lifting target (within 72 hours) of 2,642 LMT wheat,” he said.
