Farmers here have alleged that they were not getting payments for the paddy procured by various state agencies in time despite the direction by the state government to release the payments within 48 hours. The farmers said that they had yet to get the payment for the paddy sold in various grain markets in the district on and after October 25.
The farmers, resenting the situation, said that they would not be able to purchase wheat seeds for sowing the next crop in time. The delay in sowing wheat would also result in lesser production of wheat next year. On the other hand, some of the arhtiyas claimed that even though they have received messages on their mobiles from the agencies regarding the clearance of their payment, but the same was yet to be deposited in their accounts.
President of the District Arhtiyas Association Lakhvir Singh Sodha claimed that various procurement agencies, including the Food Corporation of India, were dilly-dallying on the payment to be made to farmers and the arthiyas. He further claimed that an amount of `55,000 crore was due from the purchase agencies throughout the state as these have failed to make any payment since October 15 last.
Sodha said that resentment prevailed among the farmers as they were not able to pay the installments of the loans taken from the cooperative banks and societies and were not getting enhanced limits for purchasing seeds and fertilisers. He claimed that Anandpur Sahib Member of Parliament Prem Singh Chandumajra had sought a report about the pending payments from the purchase agencies and added that the MP was likely to take up the issue with union finance minister Arun Jaitley.
{{/usCountry}}Sodha said that resentment prevailed among the farmers as they were not able to pay the installments of the loans taken from the cooperative banks and societies and were not getting enhanced limits for purchasing seeds and fertilisers. He claimed that Anandpur Sahib Member of Parliament Prem Singh Chandumajra had sought a report about the pending payments from the purchase agencies and added that the MP was likely to take up the issue with union finance minister Arun Jaitley.
{{/usCountry}}When contacted, district food and civil supplies controller Harjit Kaur said that payments to arthiyas have been cleared till October 25 for the paddy purchased and added that pending bills have already been forwarded to the department concerend.