Punjab Govt nod to used gunny bags

Chandigarh, April 18

With a view to ensuring the unhindered procurement process, the government has approved the packaging of wheat in good-quality used gunny bags provided by arhtiyas. This will ensure that there is no shortage of gunny bags in any mandi. The arrival of wheat in mandis has increased to 8 lakh MT per day and there is a nationwide shortage of new gunny bags and PP bags.

Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh reviewed the status of procurement with senior officials. Regarding the slow pace of purchase in border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur, it was explained that the grain in these areas was shrivelled and accordingly there was a relaxation in procurement specifications required from the Government of India before it could be purchased.

On April 16, the Punjab Government had written to the Centre to grant immediate relaxation in the uniform specifications of wheat in respect of shrivelled and broken grains up to 11 per cent and luster loss up to 10 per cent in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Fazilka without any value cut. However, the reply is still awaited. CM directed the Food & Supplies Minister and the Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, to immediately resolve the matter by pursuing it with their counterparts at the Centre.

In the joint analysis of wheat samples in FCI district Amritsar (Revenue District Amritsar and Tarn Taran), conducted by FCI and state procurement agencies, a luster loss up to 5 per cent and shrivelled and broken grains up to 11 per cent had been found in a few mandis of these districts which is more than the prescribed limit. — TNS