Rise in non official members of Mandi Board

Chandigarh, Sep17: The Punjab Government has directed the Mandi Board to make amendments in the provisions of the composition of the Board of Directors (BoDs) to enhance its existing membership of non official members from eight to ten to make it broad based for taking pragmatic policy decisions.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of a 15-member delegation of the Federation of Aarhti Associations with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today.

The delegation was led by Association chief Ravinder Singh Cheema. Mr Badal asked the Financial Commissioner Development to immediately issued a notification in this regard. The Chief Minister also asked the Mandi Board to amend the rule 21(3) for the renewal of the licenses of 'Katcha Aarhtiyas' (temporary commission agents).

It was also decided in the meeting to fix the charges of the machine stitching and manual stitching of grain filled gunny bags at 0.55 paisa and 0.40 paisa per bag respectively. It was also decided in the meeting to increase the minimum auction price from 0.50 paisa or Re one to Rs 10 or Rs 5 respectively.

The modalities for the allotment of shops to the permanent Aarthiyas in the new mandis (grain markets) was also discussed. It was decided that in lieu of one shop in the old mandi, two shops of smaller size would be alloted to a licensee in the new mandi.

The Chief Minister also directed the Mandi Board to re-plan the new mandis accordingly. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Chief Secretary R I Singh, Financial Commissioner Development R S Sandhu, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister D S Guru and Secretary Mandi Board Deepinder Singh and Director Food and Civil Supplies S P Singh.

UNI