Bill to extend duration of license of 'Arhtiyas' passed

Chandigarh, June 29 (UNI) Keeping in mind the long standing demand of the 'Arhtiyaa' (commission agents), the Punjab governmment has decided to amend the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961 to grant 'longer duration' license to the 'Arhtiyas' from the existing three year period.

The bill, Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (second amendment) Bill, 2007 was moved in the state Vidhan Sabha here today by Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah. The House later passed it by voice vote.

The Bill aims to simplify the license procedure and would eliminate the possibility of harassement that 'Arhtiyas' face while renewing their license after every three years. The Bill will grant 'longer duration' license to the 'Arhityas' on payment of one time lump sum fee of Rs 2000, instead of the Rs 300 they had to pay for getting their license renewed after every three years.

The House also passed the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets (Amendment) Bill, 2007 which seeks to supercede all the Market Committees, constituted by way of nomination by the previous government. All the members including the Chairman and Vice Chairman of every such Committee shall cease to hold office under the Bill.

Moving the Bill, Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah told the assembly that in the light of the changed political scenario in the state, the nominated Market Committees constituted under the Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, are no longer the representative bodies and are thus not serving the best interests of the state. Party factionalism and gross mismanagement is apprehended, he added.

Therefore in the interests of the speedy implementation of the government policies and programmes and to bring about economy in expenditure, the new Bill seeks to supersede the nominated Market Committees, he said. Hence forth an Administrator will head each such Committee and will exercise all powers and perform the functions of the Chairman or Vice Chairman till the reconstitution of the Committee, the Minister said while pointing out the Bills salient features.

UNI