- Agriculture Minister asks local site selection committees to finalise sites within a month
Chandigarh, August 14:
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian directed the officers concerned to identify and finalise the sites for construction of new grain markets in Jalalabad (Fazilka) and Patran (Patiala).
While chairing a meeting with the senior officials of the Agriculture department and Punjab Mandi Board here at Punjab Civil Secretariat, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian accompanied by MLA Jalalabad Mr. Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy and MLA Shutrana Mr. Kulwant Singh Bazigar, reviewed the status of the upcoming grain markets.
Deputy Commissioner, Patiala Mr. Showkat Ahmad Parray and Deputy Commissioner, Fazilka Dr. Senu Duggal joined through VC and apprised the Cabinet Minister on the progress of identifying sites.
After detailed discussion, the Agriculture Minister directed Deputy Commissioners of Patiala and Fazilka to publish fresh advertisements within 15 days, inviting suitable sites for establishing new Grain Market in Patran and Jalalabad, as earlier suggested sites were not found suitable by the site selection committee. He directed that the local site selection committees shall finalise the sites within a month.
While asking the officials concerned to keep the Local MLAs in loop during the process of finalising the sites for the new grain markets, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led state government has been making every effort to support farmers, and these upcoming grain markets will provide ample space for farmers to sell their produce conveniently close to their residences.
Special Chief Secretary Agriculture Mr. KAP Sinha, Secretary Agriculture Mr. Ajit Balaji Joshi, Joint Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Ms. Geetika Singh and other senior officials of the Agriculture department and Punjab Mandi Board were also present in the meeting.
