Take steps to check virus spread, Kila Raipur market panel told

Mandi Ahmedgarh, Sept 14

With an intent to minimise problems faced by farmers during the procurement of paddy, members of the Kila Raipur Market Committee have been advised to take proactive measures regarding cleaning, purchasing and lifting of foodgrains.

Paddy to be dumped at specified markets

• “We have asked all commission agents to ensure that paddy is dumped only at specified grain markets and at rice shellers, which would be used as makeshift yards to stock the produce. Market committee officials have also been asked to ensure implementation of the Covid guidelines,” Baljinder Singh Baurhai, chariman, market committee

Though the department is yet to receive detailed instructions on the issue, the officials concerned have been told to make necessary arrangements to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

A meeting of office-bearers and activists of the market committee was held at the office of the civic body at Kila Raipur, near here.

Chairman Ranjit Singh Mangat and vice-chairman Kamalpreet Singh Kikki said it was proposed that farmers would be asked to dump their produce at grain markets and purchase centres, situated away from populated localities and makeshift yards at compounds of specified rice shellers of the region.

Commission agents will be asked to provide protective materials to all labourers and farmers.

Market Committee Chairman Baljinder Singh Baurhai and Teji Kamalpur, PA to MLA Surjit Singh Dhiman, have also advised the rank and file in the Procurement Department of the Mandikaran Board to ensure that advisory on the prevention of Covid is followed in letter and in spirit to protect everybody from the virus and other infections.

“Though we are yet to receive fresh advisory on the subject, we have asked all commission agents to ensure that paddy is dumped only at specified grain markets and yards of rice shellers which would be used as makeshift yards for stocking procured paddy,” said Mangat and Baurhai, adding that officials of the market committee and procurement agencies had also been told to ensure implementation of the guidelines of the administration to keep the virus at bay. — OC