The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, November 7
Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains called on the State Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Lalchand Kataruchak, on Tuesday. During their meeting, he urged an extension of the procurement process by 15 days in some mandis in the Ropar district, particularly in the Assembly constituency of Anandpur Sahib.
He requested extension due to the delay in the ripening of paddy caused by unseasonal floods last month.
Bains informed the Food Minister that the paddy crops of many farmers were completely destroyed by the floods, leading them to re-sow their paddy, which will take an additional 10 days to mature. Subsequently, harvesting will also require an additional 3-4 days. Therefore, he sought a 15-day extension beyond the originally scheduled time limit for the procurement process.
The specific mandis requesting the additional 15 days include Agampur, Hajipur, Kiratpur Sahib, Nangal, Ghanauli, Mahen, Ajoli, and Bharatpur.
Food Minister Lal Chand Katanruchak assured Harjot Singh Bains that a notification would soon be issued to the mentioned mandis, allowing the procurement process to continue for an additional 15 days.
