Punjab govt sets up 24X7 State level control room for free movement of perishable items
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has set up a Control Room to coordinate an effective resolution of the supply chain disruptions (if any), especially in transport of perishable goods.
Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson said that the Control Room has been mandated to facilitate/coordinate a hindrance free intra/inter-state movement of vehicles carrying fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products and other essentials supplies for consumption by the public and such raw materials and packaging materials for running the food/milk processing industry, along with the transportation of such finished food products from the industry to the retailer/consumer. The Control Room would also coordinate with the concerned district or state for ensuring that factories producing packaging material like film, corrugated boxes and chemicals/other products necessary for running the food/milk processing industries are allowed to run their operations and transport these materials across states. Free movement of raw material for cattle-feed, fodder and fuel like coal, rice husk would also also be ensured.
The Spokesperson said that Secretary Horticulture Gaggandip Singh Brar would supervise the Control Room for the smooth transportation of essential food items for consumption by the public and for the operation of the food processing industry. He will also be the Nodal Officer for the State Government to keep liaison with the Union Food Processing Ministry.
The Spokesperson further pointed out that officers in-charge of the Control Room shall respond to administrative authorities civil, transport and police in and outside the state to clear bottleneck (if any) in the supply chain. The control room will be operational from 7.00 AM to 9.00 PM and function until further orders. The following numbers have been dedicated to the control room: 7986164174, 9877937725 besides email- [email protected].
Meanwhile, Engineer in Chief of Mandi Board Harpreet Singh Brar (9817091234) has been deputed as nodal officer of control room, while the other officers including GM Project G S Randhawa (9876603411) GM Finance Mukesh Juneja (9646300190), CGM Sikander Singh (9814015088), Chief Engineer B.S.Dhanoa (9988870414), DGM Enforcement Sukhbir Singh Sodhi (9814038537 and DGM Estate Paramjit Singh (9646016163) have also been deputed at the Control Room and all officers have been directed to join the duties immediately. The officers will depute the necessary officials from the Punjab Mandi Board to assist in this operation.
A roster shall be prepared by the Nodal Officer of the Control Room to ensure that at least two officers are available in the control room during the operation hours. However, given the severity and sensitivity of the operations all officers shall remain accessible 24/7 on their phones and social media.
March,27,2020 (8:30 PM)
