As the wheat procurement season already started, the Punjab Government on Tuesday made it clear that the Central bank had already cleared the cash credit limit (CCl) payment, which was expected to reach the State’s coffers latest by Wednesday.
At the same time, the Government denied any reports regarding sending a team of officials to Delhi to plead for the release of CCl by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
A government spokesperson clarified that following Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s personal meeting, and his subsequent telephonic conversations with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the CCl issue had been resolved with the central government, which had directed the RBI to release the payment.Spokesperson said that the Chief Minister had spoken to Jaitley thrice on the issue and there was no pending concern in the matter. The state government had simply sent its team to complete the formalities expeditiously, he said, adding that there was no question of pleadig with the RBI in this regard.
“The RBI holidays on April 1 and 2 has caused a slight delay but the funds are expected to come in any moment now,” said the spokesperson, rejecting media reports suggesting that there were obstacles in the release of the payment.Spokesperson said: “The state government has made all possible arrangements to ensure smooth and hassle-free procurement in the mandis…Chief Minister has already directed all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to personally monitor the procurement process and arrangements have been made on war-footing to streamline the procurement process in all the 1800 mandis of Punjab.”
Chief Minister had also issued stringent orders to ensure that the farmers and arthiyas (commission agents) do not face any problems in the mandis.
The state Mandi Board had also been directed to provide all basic amenities and facilities in the mandis, in addition to smooth and timely payments, as well as complete transparency in the process.
, which the new government has decentralized to make it more structured and effective.