INDIA NEWS CENTRE - Deputy Commissioner Jalandhar Mr. Varinder Kumar Sharma today directed the Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Chiefs of the procurement agencies to ensure the lifting of paddy crop during the ongoing procurement within 48 hours. Chairing a meeting to review the ongoing procurement here at his office, the Deputy Commissioner categorically said that any sort of laxity in performing this duty was totally unwarranted and undesirable. He said that the produce of farmers’ need to be purchased and lifted at the earliest to facilitate them. Mr. Sharma said that every effort must be made to ensure that paddy procurement must be smooth and in hassle free manner. The Deputy Commissioner said also asked the Sub Divisional Magistrates and Heads of the procurement agencies to maximize the field visits to take stock of the entire operations at ground level. He said that the officers must undertake regular visits in the grain markets under their jurisdiction and submit the daily report to him for regular monitoring. Mr. Sharma also asked them to minutely observe the procurement operations so as to ensure that the stocks of grains do not pile up in the market and its prompt lifting was ensured at the earliest. The Deputy Commissioner also asked the officers/ officials to keep him updated regarding the procurement operations by submitting the daily report of arrival, purchase, payment and others of crop to him personally. Mr. Sharma reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to lift every single grain of Paddy in a smooth and hassle free manner, during the ongoing marketing season. He said that elaborate arrangements has been made to ensure that the harvest of farmers was lifted from the grain markets in a smooth, timely and hassle free manner adding that farmer would not be allowed to face any sort of problem while selling their produce. Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Deputy Controller Food & Civil Supplies Mr. Narinder Singh, District Mandi Officer Mr. Varinder Khera and others