Bharat Bhushan Ashu categorically refutes media reports of Bardana shortage as malicious misinformation
Outrightly rejecting the media reports regarding non-availability of bales with procurement agencies as malicious propaganda, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister, Government of Punjab, underlined that there is no question of shortage of bardana in the mandies at all.
Tendering for Bardana procurement is a continuous process which starts much before the season as part of planning and goes on as and when the need arises. One cannot be sure of full quantity receipt through one tender only, the Minister pointed out that the last tender floated on April 12 and was necessitated only because permission from GoI to use used bags was received very late.
We have already got jute bales indented through the Jute Commissioner and NAFED, Ashu said that PP bales are also being received from various HDPE/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 mandies, Ashu said that as on Tuesday, 5,44,334 MTs of wheat has already been procured in the mandies 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 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.
Reiterating Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh government’s commitment to ensure smooth procurement experience for farmers, Ashu said that state is fully geared up to ensure our farmers don’t have to face any difficulty whatsoever during the season like last four years.
