Bhopal, Apr 13: At a meeting at Chief Minister's residence, the Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed the situation of wheat procurement in the state. The Chief Minister asked the concerning officers to remain always active in ensuring necessary facilities at wheat purchase centres. The review meeting was informed that so far two lakh 97 thousand 694 tonnes of wheat has been purchased in the state. Civil Supplies Corporation and other agencies had fixed a target of purchasing 10 lakh tonnes of wheat but more than double quantity of wheat is likely to purchased since the state government has nade arrangements for Rs 100 bonus on the per quintal support price to the tune of Rs one thousand. Chief Minister Chouhan instructed the officers that there is no shortage of gunny bags in the wheat procurement programme and necessary efforts in this regard should be undertaken. Apart from arrangement for gunny bags, the officers were also aksed to keep an eye on the situation of payments to farmers.

The meeting was informed that 50 thousand tonnes of wheat has been purchased in Hoshangabad, 38 thousand in Harda, 27 thousand in Ujjain, 14 thousand in Dhar, 13 thousand in Indore etc. 12 thousand each in Raisen and Sehore, and eight thousand tonnes of wheat has been purchased in Khargone.

The wheat purchase is under progress in other districts too.

Civil Supplies Corporation is the largest agency of wheat purchase in the state while Marketing Federation, Food Corporation of India and NAFED are also purchasing wheat. Those present at the meeting included Chief Secretary Rakesh Sahni, officers of Food Corporation of India and Civil Supplies Corporation and Chief Minister Secretary.