Bhadrak: Senior Mandarin and District Magistrate of Bhadrak, Dilip Routrai conducted an undercover inspection of a Mandi and found irregularities in procurement of paddy from the farmers. He immediately issued a show cause notice to the Mandi Officer from the spot.
Dr.Routrai dressed in casual attire consisting of short trousers, a t-shirt, a towel draped over his shoulders and a slipper like a farmer and uncovered irregularities in paddy procurement.
Without disclosing his identity, the District Collector spoke to farmers about their experiences with paddy procurement. To verify the ‘Katni-chhatni’ allegations, he attempted to sell paddy using another farmer’s token. The Co-operative official informed him that around 8 kg of paddy would be deducted as wastage.
After knowing the truth at the ground level, Dr.Routrai issued a show cause notice to the Secretary of a Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) at Katasahi under Dhamnagar block for allegedly exploiting farmers.
“A meeting was already held with the Secretaries of all the PACS to ensure that the farmers are not put to loss in the guise of Non-FAQ (fair average quality) norm of paddy. The District Collector personally visited your paddy purchase centre, disguising himself as a farmer to verify the allegation of katni-chhatni (slashing of MSP) in your mandi. The allegations made against your PACS were found to be true,” the show cause notice read.
“Repeated allegations on Katni-chatani from the farmers forced me to go in disguise to know the truth. So, I went to Katasahi mandi as a farmer to sell paddy last Saturday at 4pm. I remained there for three hours,” said Dr.Routrai.
The District Collector said he has immediately asked Secretary Katasahi PACS as to why action would not be taken against him as the allegations leveled against him were found to be true.
The first phase paddy procurement target in the district has already been achieved. Second phase is in progress, he informed me.
Dr.Routrai appealed to all paddy purchasing officers to refrain themselves from such irregularities. Otherwise, strong action would be taken against them, he warned.
The State Government provides Rs 3,100, which includes input assistance of Rs 800 per quintal paddy in addition to the MSP of Rs 2,300.
Dr.Routrai’s undercover operation has raised alarm across the Coastal District, which is considered as ‘Rice Bowl’ of the state.