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Nikhila Pant Dhawan
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, April 21
Wheat procurement may have started at the grain markets of the district, but the slow pace of lifting is giving the farmers sleepless nights. With every passing day, the quantity of wheat arriving at the grain markets in Bathinda is increasing and tardy lifting has created a glut-like situation in the markets. The sheds at the grain markets are turning out to be inadequate for keeping the wheat safe from weather gods.
Around 43,075 metric tonne of wheat has arrived at the city grain market and the 12 purchase centres are notified in Bathinda.
Of the total arrive wheat, 40,285 metric tonne has been procured by agencies.
However, only 18,245 metric tonnes of wheat has been lifted till now.
Data Ram of Katar Singh Wala village rued the slow pace of lifting. He said, “Space for keeping wheat is not sufficient at the grain markets and purchase centres. If lifting is not done on time, the sheds will prove to be inadequate and will cause problems for farmers and commission agents.”
Other farmers opined that due to slow lifting, piles of wheat bags could be seen across the market and there was almost no space left to unload more produce at the markets.
Balkar Singh, secretary of the market committee, said, “The pace of lifting is slow right now. Deputy Commissioner Diprava Lakra and committee teams have been visiting the markets and purchase centres. They are also inspecting the arrival of wheat and its moisture content, apart from procurement and lifting.”
“Besides Bathinda grain market, there are purchase centres in Teona, Bhagu, Gehri Devinagar, Balluana, Nasibpura, Behman Diwana, Baho Yatri, Mehta, Naruana, Shergarh, Jodhpur Romana and Chughe Khurd. More wheat is expected to arrive at these places as the last year, a total of 67,271 metric tonnes of wheat had arrived,” he said.
Balkar said the District Food and Civil Supplies Department and the administration had been doing its best to make the lifting pick pace.
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