Gharaunda/Karnal, October 3: Haryana Assembly Speaker and Gharaunda MLA Harvinder Kalyan said that due to excessive rainfall this year, farmers have been hit hard by nature; officials should not allow further damage to farmers. Timely procurement should be ensured and lifting operations should be expedited. He said that if any officer/employee is found negligent in the paddy procurement process in the markets, action will be taken. Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh was also present on the occasion.
Assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan visited the Gharaunda grain market on Friday and reviewed the paddy procurement arrangements and issued necessary instructions to officials. Earlier, in the presence of officials at the Market Committee office, Harvinder Kalyan listened to the problems of farmers, commission agents, and traders. He instructed them on the spot to streamline the paddy procurement process, as the paddy season has reached its peak and there will be a surge in paddy arrivals in the markets. He said that problems such as portal verification and gate passes should not be a hindrance. If there are any technical issues, they should be resolved promptly. Accepting the farmers' demand, he said that the number of millers in the markets should be increased to ensure timely procurement and lifting of paddy. He said that the paddy season lasts 15 to 20 days, so the staff in the market should be increased as needed so that farmers, commission agents, and traders do not have to repeatedly visit the office.
After the meeting, Harvinder Kalyan visited the paddy heaps and had the moisture checked with a moisture meter. He instructed the procurement agencies and traders not to cause unnecessary inconvenience to farmers but to expedite paddy procurement operations according to the prescribed standards. He also appealed to farmers to dry their crops and bring them to the markets so they don't face any problems selling them.
Not a single grain should be given to defaulting millers: Deputy Commissioner
On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh stated that arrangements for paddy procurement in the markets have been streamlined. However, if any farmer, commission agent, or trader encounters a problem, they can seek a local resolution with the concerned SDM. He directed the DFSC to increase the number of millers in the markets and ensure that millers who are defaulters and have not delivered are not given even a single grain of paddy. He also stated that action should be taken against procurement agencies that are negligent in the procurement and lifting of paddy.
He stated that 82,552 metric tons of paddy have arrived in the district's various markets so far. Of this, 56,426 metric tons were purchased by the government procurement agency, the Food Supply Department, 9,968 metric tons by HAFED, and 16,158 metric tons by Haryana Warehousing. Government procurement agencies have been ordered to ensure timely lifting of paddy from the mandis.
SDM Rajesh Soni, DFSC Anil Kumar, Mandi Secretary Chandra Prakash, Mandi Chairman Rajkumar Paliwal, Vice Chairman Rajpal Sharma, Municipal Council Chairman Happy Luck Gupta, Mandi Pradhan Happy Pasricha, former Pradhan Sushil Garg, former Vice President Surendra Jain, Mandal Pradhan Rohit Bhandari, General Secretary Tarsem Rana, Jagdish Rana, along with other party workers, farmers, traders, and commission agents were present.
Farmers should manage crop residue properly by not setting it on fire: DC
He appealed to farmers to come to the market in their turn so that their crops could be procured on time. He also urged farmers not to set stubble in the fields. This not only contributes to pollution but also reduces the fertility of the land. Therefore, farmers should manage crop residues properly instead of burning them.