DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Punjab Government had made a firm commitment to all the stakeholders viz. farmers, labourers, millers and arhtiyas before the start of paddy procurement season about ensuring the uninterrupted procurement. Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak said that the Government fully lived up to this commitment and it is proved by the fact that during the current season, 182.11 Lakh Metric Tonne (LMT) paddy stood procured out of the target of 184.45 LMT. The procurement was made at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 2060 per quintal fixed by the Government of India. Kataruchak said that this time no problem was encountered by the farmers in the mandis and procurement as well as lifting was done on time. Within mere 4 hours of the procurement, the payments were credited into the bank accounts of the farmers. The State Government had set up 1806 traditional purchase centres in the mandis besides declaring as many as 583 public places and 37 rice mills as interim purchase centers for the facilitation of farmers and then the allotments were made. Government procurement agencies including FCI have credited Rs. 37,514 crore into the accounts of the nearly 8 lakh farmers for the paddy procured by the agencies of the State, he added. He further said that the department has played yeoman's role apart from the Mandi Board in ensuring hassle free procurement. Besides, the contribution of the Punjab Police in effectively stonewalling the illegal paddy coming from the other States by putting up Nakas at the interstate barriers has also come for appreciation, the minister added. The custom milling policy of the State Government has garnered praise from the Government of India which has asked the State Government to share its expertise with the other States, said Kataruchak. (editor@dailyworld.in)