Oppn misleading farmers; paddy being procured at MSP, says MLA

Our Correspondent

Kaithal, October 14

Guhla MLA Kulwant Bajigar today alleged the INLD leader Abhay Chautala was trying to regain lost political ground by posing as well wishers of farmers in the state. He also termed his claims of charging Rs 50 per quintal from commission agents as absurd and baseless.

The MLA claimed farmers were being Rs 1,510 per quintal for A grade PR paddy and accrued price cut to moisture content in the crop.

Bajigar said the Punjab minister had assured him the tender for the repair of Cheeka – Patiala stretch would be floated soon. The MLA said Rs 118 crore had been sanctioned by the state government for improving road infrastructure in Guhla assembly segment of which Rs 44 crore would be spent on widening the 2-km stretch from Cheeka roundabout.

The MLA also listed various development projects. These include reconstruction of canal minors at a cost of Rs 39.37 crore; Rs 12 crore for women’s college; Rs 4.50 crore for ITI and Rs 3.97 crore for Guhla hospital. He said as many as six power sub stations had been installed and one more would be set up at Kharkan village adopted by him.

Farmers protest irregularities in paddy procurement

Kaithal: Farmers led by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni today protested against the irregularities in purchase of paddy at the Kalayat grain market. They sat on dharna in front of the office of the market committee and raised slogans against purchase agencies. They alleged that PR variety of paddy was not purchased on MSP by purchase agencies. Farmers claimed they were being cheated and forced to sell paddy at prices below the MSP due to the policy on moisture content. Some of them alleged that even dry paddy was not being bought at MSP.  Later, Monika Malik, DFSC, Chander Mohan Bishnoi, tehsildar and secretary of the market committee Savita Chaudhary inspected the procurement process.  The officials assured protesting farmers that paddy would be purchased as per norms following which the protest was withdrawn.  OC

Stubble burning: Panchayat secy suspended

Kurukshetra: The district administration has suspended panchayat secretary Dayaram Krishan of Murtzapur village for not alerting the authorities about stubble burning. An official spokesman said the Chief Secretary had directed all panchayat secretaries and patwaris to report any case of stubble burning in their jurisdictions to the district administration within an hour. Deputy Commissioner Sumedha Kataria said 34 cases of stubble burning were reported in the last few days and 58 farmers had been found guilty. She said a fine of Rs 2.67 lakh had been imposed on them. TNS