Ambala commission agents wait for allotment letters

Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 22

Wheat arrivals have started declining at the new Ambala Cantonment grain market. Commission agents are satisfied with arrivals on the higher side compared to previous years.

But they have to brave the scorching heat and dusty storms as they still do not have any shops in the grain market here.

A new grain market at Ambala Cantonment was established in Bohawa village. It was inaugurated last year. There are 121 plots.

A draw of plots was held on June 3 and 15 commission agents were found eligible to get plots on reserved rate. Allotment letters have not been given to them yet.

There are 30 commission agents whose appeals are pending with the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board (HSAMB) to get the shops on reserved price.

In the absence of shops, some commission agents who have shops in the Saha grain market asked farmers to offload stocks in the Saha market instead of the cantonment grain market.

In some cases, the commission agents have deputed their accountants in the market and they operated from their shops in old market.

Vineet Jain, a commission agent whose appeal is pending, said, “It was difficult. The weather has been uncertain and there are no seating arrangements. There is no place to keep books and personal belongings. The board should listen to our appeals, complete formalities and issue allotment letters so that we can construct shops.”

Satish Budhiraja, vice-president, Kacha Aadhti Association, said, “There have been some issues, but the commission agents have managed somehow. We have appealed to J Ganesan, Chief Administrator, HSAMB, who visited the market recently. He has assured that allotment will be done by this month end.”

Krishan Kumar Malik, secretary, market committee, said, “Commission agents are likely to get their allotment letters next week. Appeals of 30 persons are pending and will also be heard soon. An open auction will be held on May 25 for 76 shops at the grain market.”

The Ambala Cantonment grain market had received over 39,000 quintals of wheat this time while it had received 23,000 quintals last year. Officials expected total arrivals to cross the 50,000-quintal mark by the end of the season.