Haryana Minister of State for Food and Supplies Karan Dev Kamboj on Thursday issued directions to immediately release payment for arrears of paddy being procured by the department.
Kamboj visited the Pipli, Thanesar, Shahabad and Pehowa mandis (grain markets) in district Kurukshetra and Anaj Mandis in Cheeka, Kaithal, Pundri and Dhand in district Kaithal. He also heard the grievances of farmers, traders, millers and officers in a joint meeting in Pipli.
The Minister said that the process of paddy procurement is going on smoothly and strict action would be taken against officers who are found neglecting their duties.
Regarding a grievance raised by traders, the Minister gave assurance that payment for paddy would soon be deposited in the bank accounts of traders.
He also checked the paddy that had arrived in the mandis besides checking the moisture content and accuracy of the weighing scale.
During the current Kharif season, more than 10.83 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy have so far arrived in the mandis (grain markets) of Haryana. During this period last year, 6.64 lakh MT paddy had arrived in the mandis.
A spokesman of the Food and Supplies Department said that of the total arrival, more than 10.39 lakh MT paddy was leviable and 44,030 MT paddy was non-leviable.
Kurukshetra had received the maximum amount of paddy at more than 3.16 lakh MT. Of the total arrival, more than 2.60 lakh MT paddy has arrived in Karnal, more than 1.78 lakh MT in Kaithal, more than 1.55 lakh MT in Ambala, 70,058 MT in Yamunanagar, 35,506 MT in Panchkula, 38,208 MT in Fatehabad, 12,389 MT in Sirsa, 12,105 MT in Jind, 1,835 MT in Hisar, 1,682 MT in Sonepat and 295 MT in Faridabad.