Following the recent exposure of middlemen selling paddy at Cooperative paddy procurement centers in Mahasamund and Rajnandgaon districts, the State Government has ordered District Collectors and Commissioners to carry out detailed inspection of procurement centers which are registering inordinate influx of paddy.
According to official information, a circular has been released by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department from the Mantralaya in this regard.
The circular has directed officers to carry out regular checking of the functioning of paddy procurement centers function in various districts adjoining other states.
The circular also mentioned that hundred per cent verification of farmers registered with procurement centers should be ensured. On an average, there are 700 farmers registered with a paddy procurement center, so it is possible to verify paddy stocks of each farmer.
It further said, if any farmer has registered the wrong acerage with the intention of benefiting middlemen then strict action should be taken against such farmers.
Detailing the general modus operandi of the middleman the circular explained: ‘Generally middlemen purchase paddy from some shops or farmers in villages or from nearby states and then by using the false acerage of any farmer they sell it to the procurement centers as registered farmer. ‘
Such kind of activities increases the financial burden on the State government. In case, any discrepancies are detected then strict action must be undertaken against the errant persons under the relevant provision of Mandi Act, the circular mentioned.