App, body cams, 24x7 entries to help solve Sector 26 mandi mess

Chandigarh: With poor sanitation, hygiene, large-scale encroachments, congestion and poor market fee collection in the grain market, Sector 26 creating a mess, the State Agricultural Marketing Board, on Wednesday finally decided to act.
“All entries of agricultural produce containing relevant details should be recorded in registers at all entry/exit gates 24x7 and staff deputed by the market committee.These entries to be made subsequently through an application, as and when it is developed,” directed Rupesh Kumar, secretary, State Agricultural Marketing Board,

All staff of market committee deputed in the mandi like supervisors, auction recorders, gate keepers and e-NAM staff were directed to wear body cameras during duty hours. The market committee has to arrange these cameras within next 15 days, said Kumar.
Within a month, a mobile app will be developed to monitor sale and purchase of agricultural product at the mandi.
Kumar directed, “A mobile app to be developed for recording arrival, auction and all other entries relating to sale/purchase of agricultural produce.”
Administrator, market committee, has been directed to visit the mandi at least twice a week and submit comparative report regarding arrival and market fee collection along with ground report on sanitation work and encroachments to the secretary, State Agricultural Marketing Board, Chandigarh.
These reports should be accompanied with the photographs. Administrator, market committee, will also listen to grievances of the people working in the mandi and to take action for redressal of their grievances.
Even as the UT administration looks to expedite the shifting of the vegetable and grain market from Sector 26 to Sector 39, the Sector 26 mandi remain in a mess.