Mukerian (Pb): Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh today reviewed the ongoing paddy procurement here and directed officials to ensure that the payment is made to farmers within the stipulated 48 hours.  

Presiding over a review meeting, the chief minister said that the requisite basic amenities in all 'mandis' should be made available and no laxity in procurement operations would be tolerated. Reiterating the resolve to procure every single grain produced by the state's farmers, Amarinder Singh said his government had taken all measures to ensure smooth procurement, an official release said.  

The chief minister urged farmers to bring only dry produce in 'mandis' to avoid problems or delays in selling their produce. Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujjwal apprised the chief minister that 43,221 tonnes of paddy had arrived in the mandis of the district so far, of which 42,388 tonnes had been procured by different agencies.

Emphasising the need of crop diversification in view of the prevailing agrarian crisis, Amarinder Singh also issued directions for smooth procurement of Maize, which he said could play a pivotal role as an alternate crop. PTI