Madhya Pradesh: Irregularity In Paddy Purchase; Minister Orders Probe; Seeks Report In 7 Days

With clamour rising over irregularities in paddy procurement, the state government on Wednesday ordered a probe. Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection Minister Govind Singh Rajput directed that a comprehensive probe be completed in seven days. The district collectors were also ordered to constitute investigation teams. 

Each team will have an additional, joint, and deputy collector. The district supply controller and food officer will be the coordinator. Rajput instructed that cases of paddy deposit in less quantity be investigated, the shortfall recovered from the concerned procurement committee and transporter, and payment made to aggrieved farmers.

He also directed that information on vehicles involved in paddy transportation be collated along with their loading capacity.

In all, FIRs have been registered in seven cases – five in Jabalpur and 1 each in Rewa and Maihar.

A recovery of Rs 13.38 cr has already been made, and efforts are underway to recover the remaining Rs 14.16 cr. 

BJP MLA raised issue

BJP MLA from Jabalpur, Ajay Vishnoi, first raised the issue of irregularities in paddy purchases in his constituency in the recently concluded Budget Session of the Assembly. He alleged that farmers were running from pillar to post to get their payment. At that time, Minister Rajput had assured the House that no culprit would be spared and recoveries would be made so that farmers could be paid their due.

This article has been republished from The Free Press Journal.