Approving the new wheat purchase policy, the Uttar Pradesh Government has set a target to purchase 30 lakh metric tonne of wheat this year in a transparent manner at the rate of Rs1450 per quintal. The decision regarding this was taken in a Cabinet meeting held here on Monday.
The Government has decided to purchase wheat directly from farmers. The purchase centres will be operational from April 2 to June15. “The Government has decided to purchase wheat from nine agencies that will operate over 5000 wheat purchase centres across the state,” an official said. He added registered cooperative societies were roped in the purchase system for the first time to help in easing the pressure at centres. “All centres will have buffer amount for at least five sacks of wheat. The District Magistrate will be responsible for maintaining this buffer money,” the official said.
“To rule out involvement of middle men, the payment will be made directly to farmers’ bank accounts through RTGS,” the official said. The wheat purchase centres will be operational from 9 in the morning to 6 in the evening. The DM is empowered to carry out changes in the opening and closing times of these centres. “These centers will remain open on all working days,” he pointed out. In another decision, the Government has approved the proforma of MoU to be signed between the Central Conventional Energy department and state’s Non-Conventional Energy Development Authority (NEDA) for setting up of solar parks in the state.
Under the new solar energy policy, there is a proposal to set up solar parks in the state. For setting up 500 MW solar park 1,000 hectare land is required. The Cabinet was told that UPNEDA has 570.18 hectare of land available in Jalaun. Besides, DMs have earmarked 459.375 hectare of land for setting up solar plants in Orai, Mirzapur, Sonebhadra and Allahabad. Thus the state has 1029.555 hectare of land for setting up solar parks. Process has begun to transfer this land to NEDA.