Process of allocation of paddy to bank auctioned rice millers begins
By Amrit Pal Singh Brar
Sri Muktsar Sahib: 17 October, 2017: The process of allocation of paddy for milling to bank auctioned rice millers have began on Tuesday in Sri Muktsar Sahib. Eight bank auctioned rice millers have been allocated paddy through PUNSUP, PAFC, Markfed and PUNGRAIN. Four rice millers, who have filed a writ petition in this matter, were not allocated any agency today. They may get the allocation on Wednesday as per the official sources.
Earlier, yesterday, the food and supply department following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana court decided to allocate paddy for milling to the bank auctioned millers. The Punjab Haryana high court has issued direction to the food and supply department that the needful be done as expeditiously as possible preferably within a period of two weeks”. The court has issued directions on 27th September, 2017.
The bank auctioned rice millers have challenged the Clause 11 (H) (h) of the Milling Policy 2017-18. They have pleaded that this clause impacts them badly as adherence to it would oust them from the process of allocation of paddy for milling.
One of the rice millers told babushahi “We have received the allocation orders today, whereas few others may get it tomorrow”. The season is at peak and most the paddy has reached the markets, we have suffered a lot during the last few days. It was only after the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana court that the food and supply officials wake up, he said.
The department of food and supply has not been allocated to any minister. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh himself looks after this department. He is reportedly taking daily briefs from his own sources about the progress of paddy procurement in the grain markets.