DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The Punjab government on Tuesday said it has formed a group of ministers (GoM) for supervising foodgrain procurement in the coming seasons in the state. The GoM comprises Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian as chairman while Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal as members.

Principal Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Rahul Tiwari gave a presentation on the planning being done to ensure smooth paddy procurement, which will commence on October 1.

About storage concern in view of the coming paddy procurement season, the GoM was apprised that all out efforts are being made in this connection and 40 lakh metric tonne of space would be created by December this year.

Around 82-83 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of space would be created by the end of June next year.

Khuddian assured that all genuine issues of the rice millers, 'arhtiyas' (commission agents) and farmers would be resolved and the issues requiring intervention of the Union government will be taken up with them at the highest level.

(editor@dailyworld.in)