Punjab: Amarinder Singh asks Textile Min Smriti Irani to direct CCI to resume cotton procurement

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has written to Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani to direct the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to resume procurement of cotton in the state.

In his letter to the minister, copies of which were released to the media Friday, the chief minister pointed out that he had requested that the CCI be directed to procure/purchase cotton through commission agents in the state, as has been the established practice for years.

However, Singh expressed concerns that the procurement process had not yet started even though it was supposed to begin on October 1.

"I would, therefore, once again seek your intervention in the matter to advise CCI to purchase cotton in keeping with the previous practice," he wrote in the letter.

The chief minister expressed hopes that the Union minister would accord top priority to the matter and issue appropriate instructions to the CCI immediately.

(With inputs from agencies.)