CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday virtually launched a portal ‘emandikaran-pb.in’ for E-Auction, of properties in various Mandis across the state, developed by the Department of Colonization and Punjab Mandi Board.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that this online platform would go a long way in strengthening the mandi infrastructure. Terming it a defining moment in the history of Department of Coloinization and Mandi Board, Captain Amarinder Singh said the newly launched portal would offer an opportunity to the various stakeholders including farmers and Arthiyas for purchase of properties in a prompt and fair manner through transparent bidding process.
Giving the details, Chairman Mandi Board Lal Singh said that during one year schedule of the monthly E-Auctions as many as 2302 plots in the mandis would commence from July 9, 2021 preceded by the bidder training across 154 Market Committees from July 1-July 8, 2021. Out of these 2302 plots, 375 are situated in Sabzi Mandi Ludhiana, 222 in Mullanpur mandi (Ludhiana), 262 in Bagha Purana mandi (Moga), 241 in Kotkapura (Faridkot), 217 in Mamdot (Ferozepur), 196 in Sirhind (Fatehgarh Sahib), 175 in Khalra (Tarn Taran), 145 in Samana (Patiala), 114 in Banga (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar), 104 in Bhagta Bhai Ka (Bathinda), 95 in Lakkar Mandi Garhi Kanugo (Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar), 70 in Amarkot (Tarn Taran), 55 in Sabzi mandi Sanour road, Patiala and 31 in Sabzi mandi Mohali (Showroms).
Pointing out benefits of the E-Auction for buyers, Lal Singh said that the new initiative would ensure speed, security and transparency in the auction process besides the longer bidding window of 10 days vis-à-vis traditional one day open auction. The bids in the online auction can be placed without stepping out of home/office as online auction know no barriers. Further, time would not be a constraint as the auction process would be open 24/7 till closing date.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also rolled out Near Field Communication technology (NFC) based Electronic Identity Cards (eIDs) for the officers and employees of the Mandi Board making Punjab the first state to take such a technological leap.
Taking part in the deliberations, ACS Development Anirudh Tewari said that E-Auction would also ensure lower operational costs for the departments as there would be just one time investment in developing software with no investment in creating physical infrastructure, manpower or other additional costs. Besides, the new process would ensure much larger audience willing to participate in the auction adding he said online auction would have no bearing on the routine office operation as the bidding would be conducted independent of the office procedures and greater participation would lead to good returns. Furthermore, regular auctions would lead to the development of mandi eco-system thus strengthening the mandi system in the entire State.
Meanwhile, the Secretary Mandi Board Ravi Bhagat apprised the Chief Minister that out of 22, 026 plots with the Mandi Board, 9902 have been sold thus bringing the receipts of Rs. 905 crore to the state exchequer with 12, 124 remaining unsold. Likewise, the Colonization department has 27, 539 plots, of which 21, 790 have been sold while 5, 749 left unsold. The estimated value of unsold plots of Mandi Board and Colonization department stands at Rs. 2020 crore with Mandi Board plots valued at Rs. 1425 crore and Colonization department plots’ value is placed at Rs. 595 crore.
Among others present on the occasion included Senior Vice Chairman Mandi Board Peter Sandhu, Joint Secretary Mandi Board Harsuhinderpal Singh Brar and President Punjab Arhtiya Association Vijay Kalra.