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Jaipur, April 21 (IANS) To strengthen wheat procurement at the Minimum Support Price in the Kota-Bundi region, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting at the CAD Auditorium with officials from the Food Corporation of India, Rajfed, Tilamsangh, NCCF, and the district administration in Kota.

Birla directed all agencies to increase procurement targets at mandis and procurement centres, stressing that no farmer arriving to sell wheat at the Minimum Support Price should be turned away. He categorically instructed that no procurement centre should be closed until the district’s overall target is fully achieved.

With wheat arrivals expected to rise sharply in the coming days, Birla called for accelerating lifting (transport) and unloading of wheat, increasing labour deployment at Food Corporation of India warehouses, and ensuring vehicles are not held up outside warehouses for more than two days.

He also directed Rajfed and Tilamsangh to coordinate with the Food Corporation of India to move wheat to railway yards once rake-level quantities are reached, enabling faster bulk transportation.

Taking a firm stand on logistics, Birla said procurement must not suffer due to a shortage of gunny bags (bardana). He instructed officials to ensure the uninterrupted availability of gunny bags in the Kota-Bundi region, fast-track tendering, issue work orders without delay, and replace any defective gunny bags supplied to procurement agencies.

He also spoke with senior officials, including Cooperation Secretary Samit Sharma and Food Secretary Ambrish Kumar, and directed the immediate resolution of the issue.

Birla instructed Rajfed Managing Director Saurabh Swami to keep all procurement centres operational until the district-wide target is met, even if individual centres achieve their own targets earlier.

He further emphasised simplifying procurement procedures, improving the flow of arrivals at mandis, and ensuring a seamless, farmer-friendly process.

To enhance on-ground arrangements, Birla directed increasing the number of weighing scales at centres, providing tarpaulins, shade, and drinking water in mandis, and ensuring smooth and transparent procurement operations.

During the meeting, Food Corporation of India General Manager Vijay Chaudhary informed that comprehensive arrangements are in place to meet procurement targets in the Kota division.

He added that both railway rakes and road transport are being used to move wheat.

Senior administrative officials, public representatives, and officers from the Food Corporation of India, Rajfed, Tilamsangh, the Cooperation Department, and the Food and Civil Supplies Department attended the meeting.

--IANS

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