Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Sunday ordered strict action against the officials responsible for shortage of wheat stocks at Jandiala Guru centre in Amritsar district.
The Department of Food and Supplies immediately deputed the Central Vigilance Committee (CVC) from head office to undertake a special physical verification of Pungrain wheat stocks at Jandiala Guru in Amritsar district, after it came to notice that the concerned Inspector Jasdev Singh is absconding.
CVC constituted various teams to verify the wheat stocks in various godowns or plinths of Pungrain at Jandiala Guru. As per the preliminary report, 1,84,344 bags (50 kg jute per 30 kg PP) pertaining to crop year 2018-19, 2020-21, and 2021-22 have been found to be short, the cost of which is approximately Rs 20 crores.
The Minister said that he has taken a serious note of the same and ordered to initiate Departmental proceedings for major penalty against all the staff or officials responsible for the shortage.
Accordingly, DFSO Amarinder Singh and AFSO Jandiala Guru Arshdeep Singh have been placed under suspension and Departmental proceedings or issuance of charge sheet has been ordered.
Further, Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against DFSC Amritsar Raj Rishi Mehra and his predecessor Jasjit Kaur for supervisory lapse and charge sheets are to be issued to both the officers.
An FIR dated August 6, 2021, has been registered against the delinquent Inspector at Police Station Jandiala district Amritsar Rural, the Minister said.
CVC, in its preliminary report, has also apprehended that there might be bogus purchase of wheat and embezzlement of wheat distributed under NFSA-2013/ PMGKY. In this regard, CVC has been directed to undertake thorough enquiry of the matter and verify the central pool wheat stocks of RMS 2018-19 onwards and also report regarding distribution of wheat under NFSA-2013/ PMGKY.
It has also been decided to refer the case to Vigilance Department, Punjab for further investigation, he said.
The Minister also made it clear that the Government would not tolerate any corruption and strict action would be taken against any officer or staff found responsible for such acts.
To prevent such cases in future, a committee of Departmental officers has been constituted and directed to submit their report or comments within three weeks, he added.