Bargarh: Hundreds of farmers of Bargarh district could not sell their paddy during the Rabi season procurement.
The farmers could not sell their paddy as mandis (procurement centres) in the district closed early with the district administration saying procurement targets had been met.
The alleged irregularities in procurement at the Tora Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society (PACS) of Bargarh Regulated Marketing Committee (RMC) hinted at foreclosure of mandis.
According to reports, land including areas coming under water bodies, village roads and railway lines were shown as farms and fake ID cards in the name of non-farmers were made to show that the targeted paddy was procured.
There are allegations that this type of irregularity has taken place not only at Tora PACS, but also in many other PACS in the district.
However, the district administration is not keen either on disclosing the irregularities or taking action against the culprits. The lackadaisical attitude and delay in the name of enquiry has helped the culprits.
Assistant Registrar Cooperative Society in-charge Sarat Chandra Panigrahi had asked Cooperative Extension Officer (CEO) Santanu Panigrahi to enquire into the matter. The views of the CEO could not be obtained as his mobile phone was switched off.
As the CEO has not completed his investigations and keeping in mind the sensitivity of the issue, the Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Society Bhakta Bandhu Sahoo has ordered the local ARCS to submit a report soon.
Allegations have also been raised on the involvement of traders and millers who have a nexus with unscrupulous department officials, PACS and RMC. Some so called farmers’ leaders and politicians are helping the irregularities.
The paddy procured using fake ID cards of farmers have gone directly to rice mills after making a false entry in the registers at mandis. The vehicle registration numbers of two-wheelers were quoted for paddy transportation to the mills, sources said.
The farmers of Bargarh district have demanded a high level enquiry so that the names of fake farmers including many department officials, millers and traders, into whose bank accounts the payments were made can be found.
PNN