Saturday, August 1, 2009

Report reveals irregularity in paddy purchase system

The Pioneer, Aug 1, 2009
Bikash Khemka | Bhawanipatna

The enforcement squad had conducted investigation and field verification into rabi paddy procurement in 2009 in the month of June in Kalampur, Junagarh and Jayapatna blocks of Kalahandi district recently basing upon the regular allegations by farmers.

On charges of committing irregularities in the paddy purchase system, two supply inspectors of Junagarh and Jaipatna blocks were suspended on Wednesday by the squad.

The squad after interaction with affected farmers verified paddy purchase and delivery registers and inspected five mills where they found the gross irregularities in maintaining the records with excess of paddy bags in the godown in comparison to their recorded register.

The registers were found with false entries and missing signature of farmers with spot verification by the squad basing upon the farmers’ allegations that millers purchase paddy through middlemen (dalal) in spite of adequate availability at paddy purchase centres.

The farmers have been deprived of their legal due since long in the district due as connivance among the supply department, paddy purchasing officers, unscrupulous traders, middlemen and millers is working to purchase paddy below Minimum Support Price (MSP), the enforcement squad has commented in its report to the supply department which reached here recently.

No comments: