A routine morning took an unexpected turn at the Katargaon wheat procurement centre on Thursday when Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav’s convoy swerved off the scheduled route. Instead of heading to the local helipad, the CM landed right in the middle of grain traders and waiting farmers, catching the administration completely off guard.

A sharp detour

The Chief Minister had spent the night in Maheshwar as part of his assembly constituency visit. Officials were preparing for his departure to the helipad when he suddenly redirected his cavalcade towards the Barwah Road facility. Farmers and staff present at the centre appeared stunned as the CM stepped out without any formal protocol.

CM sits down with farmers

Once there, Yadav skipped the standard podium briefings. He walked up to the waiting growers and began a direct conversation. Sources present at the spot said he asked specific, ground-level questions—whether payment schedules were being met and if the weighing process was free of irregularities.

“The Chief Minister wanted no filter. He asked about the waiting time, the weight readings, and the final settlement. It was a quick but deep drill,” a local agriculture officer present at the centre told reporters later.

Orders for immediate relief

According to officials familiar with the inspection, CM Yadav noted that several farmers had been standing in the open sun for long durations. He promptly issued directions to Collector Bhavya Mittal and other mandi officials to set up shaded waiting areas, along with access to cold drinking water.

He also took feedback from local MLA Rajkumar Mev regarding broader agrarian distress in the region, particularly issues related to moisture content deductions and late slot bookings.

Transparency in weighing, payments

The Chief Minister was firm on one point: the entire chain—from online slot booking to the final weight reading—must remain transparent. He noted that the state has already increased the number of weighing scales at the centre from four to six, warning that more would be added if bottlenecks remain.

Farmers at Katargaon had earlier complained about delays in the queue system, though no major protests have been reported from this district so far. The CM assured the gathering that the government would honour the full procurement price of ₹2,625 per quintal, inclusive of the announced bonus.

A warning to district officials

Before leaving, Yadav made his stance public. He stated that procurement centres across the state should remain on high alert, as he could conduct similar surprise inspections in any district without prior notice. “The administration should not wait for an intimation. Be ready every day,” he was heard telling senior officials.

What next?

The state's wheat procurement drive is currently in its second phase across Nimar region. Following the CM’s nudge, district authorities have initiated a quick internal review of queue management and payment reconciliation at all major centres in Maheshwar and surrounding blocks. Officials confirmed that pending payments from the last fortnight are being processed on priority.