GUWAHATI: Several Agriculture department officials are under the scanner of CM Vigilance over alleged corruption in seed distribution and proper implementation of other schemes, sources said on Wednesday, June 17.
An official aware of the operation against the agriculture department officials confirmed that the raid was on, but he said it was too early to divulge any details.
This comes after newly-appointedAgriculture minister Pijush Hazarika took charge last week. During a meeting with officials on Sunday, the minister had warned seed and fertiliser suppliers of criminal action and license cancellation over delay in supply.
The minister emphasised that seed and fertiliser distribution must be transparent, ordering that high-quality seeds must reach farmers at least one month before the sowing season.
Warning that delays or inefficiencies would not be tolerated, the minister instructed the agriculture department to explore legal avenues for criminal proceedings, blacklisting, and license cancellation against agencies supplying substandard products or engaging in the black-marketing of fertilisers. He also said that the government will not spare any officials in case they are involved in corrupt practices.
In the recent years, there have been widespread allegations of registration of non farmers under PM-Kisam scheme.
It is learnt that the government will soon remove the fake beneficiaries and replace them with eligible farmers.
Further, during the meeting, Hazarika noted that while nearly 50 lakh families in Assam depend on agriculture, only 24 lakh are currently registered.
The minister said the department will launch a special drive to register an additional lakh farmers within the next few months.