Vishav Bharti
Chandigarh, July 5
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has ordered an inquiry into Rs 1,178-crore agricultural machinery scam after The Tribune broke the story in 2019.
Secretary (Agriculture) Dilraj Singh has confirmed the development. The Finance Department would conduct the inquiry into the In-Situ Crop Residue Management Scheme, he said.
“The CM has ordered an inquiry to find out the truth regarding the financial aspect of the centrally funded crop residual management scheme. A three-member team of the internal audit of the government is inquiring into the matter,” said the Secretary.
The Tribune broke the story on the scam on October 18, 2019. It was then highlighted that 34 farm machinery banks in Bathinda were supposed to be established with the help of 80 per cent Central subsidy. The state received the subsidy, but a large number of farm machinery banks remained only on paper.
Last week, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare) Saravjit Singh had ordered an audit and physical verification of each machine purchased with the Central subsidy.
In a communication sent to all agricultural officers last week, the Director (Agriculture) said the physical verification of 90,000 machines, which were purchased with the Centre’s subsidy, had to be completed within 15 days. Officials have been asked to check whether or not machines are present on the ground.
Cong govt ‘tried’ to cover it up
- In all, 34 farm machinery banks in Bathinda were supposed to be established with the help of 80 per cent Central subsidy
- The state received the subsidy, but a large number of farm machinery banks remained only on paper
- When the matter was flagged, the previous Congress government tried to cover it up
Punjab CM orders probe into agricultural machinery scam
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