Warangal: Priority being given to grain purchase centres – Dr Akun Sabharwal
Warangal: The state government has a clear objective to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers, which is why top priority is being given to grain procurement centres, said civil supplies commissioner Dr Akun Sabharwal.
Dr Sabharwal conducted a review meeting with the Warangal Urban and Warangal Rural district collectors - Prashanth Jeevan Patil and M. Haritha -along with other officials on Thursday, to discuss grain procurement process.
The officials informed that they have opened 50 grain procurement centres including 43 Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and 17 Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) in Warangal Urban district. In the rural district, there are 64 centres that are operated by PACS and 35 by IKP.
“The direct procurement of grains from farmers and payment to their bank accounts directly ensures transparency,” he added.
Dr Sabharwal directed the legal metrology department officials to keep an eye on the weighing machines at the procurement centres to avoid farmers getting cheated. He also told the officials to be vigilant in view of complaints against millers in regard to the moisture content in the farmers’ produce.
Officials were directed to ensure payment to farmers within 48 hours of procurement without fail. Fair price shop (FPS) dealers have been asked to cooperate with the administration by supplying adequate number of gunny bags.
The civil supplies commissioner directed the administration to ensure sufficient tarpaulin covers, electronic weighing machines, and moisture measuring machines at all procurement centres. He also told them to ensure basic amenities such as drinking water, lighting facility etc at the centres.
Later, Dr Sabharwal who inspected a grain procurement centre in Dharmasagar mandal headquarters interacted with farmers.
Joint collector S. Dayanand, assistant collector B. Santhosh, DSOs Vijayalaxmi, Vanaja, civil supplies DM K. Bhaskar Rao, DRDO Ramu, DCO Neeraja and FCI assistant manager Kurien were present.
