The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, on the instructions of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, has formed special teams and conducted surprise checking of grain markets across the state to monitor ongoing wheat procurement process besides ensuring that farmers did not face any difficulty in selling their crops.
The vigilance teams, in its feedback, reported that lifting of wheat was a bit slow at some places.
“Instructions have been issued to the SSPs of various ranges and other officials to conduct surprise checking of grain markets to monitor ongoing wheat procurement and get feedback from farmers and the arhtiyas,” said the state Chief Director Vigilance BK Uppal.
He said that teams had been also instructed to give a transparent report in case they found any irregularity in the purchase, payment and lifting process or lack of any basic facility.
Uppal said that Vigilance teams had conducted surprise checking of 34 grain markets of ludhiana and 11 grain markets of Rupnagar. Patiala range conducted surprise checking of 27 grains markets of Patiala district, nine of Nabha, 33 of Barnala district and 23 of Sangrur district, he added.
Similarly, Vigilance teams also conducted surprise checking of Jhunir, Sardulgarh and Boha grain markets falling under Mansa district and eight grain markets of Bathinda district besides visiting 18 grain markets of Faridkot district.
He further said that Vigilance teams also conducted special checking of main grain markets of Amritsar, Tarn taran, Gurdaspur and Jalandhar districts.
Uppal said that wheat procurement process was found running smoothly and concerned department had been informed to check wherever some irregularities were found.
He added that the lifting process at some places had been found slow because of bad weather during last few days. During most of these surprise visits, farmers, labourers and commission agents expressed satisfaction over arrangements done by Punjab government to ensure smooth wheat procurement.
Uppal ensured farmers that Bureau has been fully committed to safeguard their interests and corruption at any level in the procurement process would not be spared.
He appealed the people to report corruption by public servants and other such grievances at Vigilance Bureau’s toll free number 1800 1800 1000 without any hesitation.