Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 4
Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu today said the state saw a record foodgrain procurement last year despite the lockdown.
While 127.11 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat was procured in the rabi season, 202.78 MT of paddy was purchased in the kharif season.
Taking precautions in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state had set up nearly 4,400 additional temporary purchase centres in the two procurement seasons.
Speaking at a press conference, Ashu said Punjab would not allow traders from other states to sell wheat in the mandis here. He said the department was preparing a strategy to curb the practice.
“It is principled stand taken by the Legislature against the Central farm laws. We did the same thing with traders bringing paddy from outside to sell in Punjab mandis,” he said even as the amendments to the Central laws passed in the Vidhan Sabha are yet to get approval from the Governor.
Setting the agenda for the implementation of scheme under the National Food Security Act for 2021, Ashu said the department planned to start sending customised SMSs to beneficiary families informing them about their entitlement so that they could draw ration on time.
He said the inter-state portability of ration distribution had been implemented under which migrants from other states, on arrival in Punjab, could avail their entitlement of ration from fair price shop of their choice.
- 4,400 additional centres
- 127.11 MT wheat procured
- 202.78 MT paddy purchased
- The state had set up nearly 4,400 additional temporary purchase centres in the 2 procurement seasons
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