Chandigarh Chief Secretary Reviews Agriculture and Mandi Infrastructure; Calls for Online Transparency and Removal of Encroachments

The Voice of Chandigarh 

The Chief Secretary, UT Chandigarh, H. Rajesh Prasad, IAS, convened a high-level meeting  with officers of the Agriculture Department and the State Agricultural Marketing Board to review key issues related to agricultural land, market infrastructure, and Mandi management in the Union Territory.

During the meeting, Secretary Agriculture, Pardeep Kumar, IAS, briefed the Chief Secretary on the extent of agricultural land in Chandigarh and the status of beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
Hari Kallikat, IAS, Secretary, State Agricultural Marketing Board, made a detailed presentation on the existing Sector 26 Mandi and the proposed new Grain, Fruit & Vegetable Market at Sector 39.

The Chief Secretary directed that modalities be prepared to rationalize and enhance market fees, and emphasized that the arrival of agricultural produce must be recorded online to ensure transparency and efficiency in fee calculation. He noted that an online platform would help streamline operations and prevent discrepancies in mandi fee collections from commission agents.

Addressing the issue of encroachments in the Sector 26 Mandi, the Chief Secretary instructed that unauthorized vendors be removed immediately, reiterating that the mandi is designated exclusively for wholesale trading. He also stressed the need to maintain proper sanitation and ensure the upkeep of roads, sewerage, and street lighting in the area, directing concerned departments to take prompt action.

On the development of the new Sector 39 Mandi, Sh. Prasad urged officials to expedite the shifting process and to pursue the pending Supreme Court case actively for early hearing and resolution.

The meeting was attended by Pavittar Singh, PCS, Administrator Market Committee, Navin, Director Agriculture, and Rajiv Tewari, Joint Secretary, Marketing Board.