-SATISH HANDA

Large number of embezzlements has been reported from time to time in past years in Haryana state in which rice millers procured paddy from government agencies including food and supply department for milling but never returned rice stocks and cases were under trial in the courts for long time when courts ordered recoveries from defaulter rice millers as well as their guarantors and in most of cases it was observed that most of the rice mills were defaulters already under heavy debts undergoing cases against them by the banks for recovery of loans availed by them. P.K.Das Additional Chief Secretary Food & Supply Department Haryana directed DC Karnal Nishant Yadav to take stern action against rice millers involved in recent scam of value nearly Rs 400 crore in which paddy crop was given to rice mills at Karnal and Kurukshetra district for milling but failed to deliver rice stocks after milling by last date June 30, 2020. Most of the rice millers requested state government that they failed to complete work due to lockdown declared in the state and most of the migrant labourers had left for their native places. However, government extended the date for supply of rice till July 15, 2020.

Information reveals that nearly 90% rice stocks have been delivered back to government after milling in Haryana state, whereas most of the rice millers sold out superior quality rice stocks owned by government agencies during lock down period in the market at much higher rates and started procuring inferior quality PDS rice being supplied at depots from rice mills in U.P and Bihar to fill up the shortage of rice stocks they sold in open market at higher prices to earn extra profits. Narender Malik SDM during raid took into possession two truck loads containing inferior quality rice brought from U.P and during physical verification rice stocks in these mills were found short. On the orders of Deputy Commissioner FIRs were registered against both rice mills: Balajee Rice Mills on Pingli Road and India Rice Mill on Kaithal Road at Karnal. Meanwhile, state government transferred Anil Kumar District Food & Supply Controller  Karnal and charge was handed over to Nishant Rathee transferred from Ambala advised physical verification of nearly 35 rice mills in Karnal and Kurukshetra districts out of the total number of nearly 900 rice mills in Haryana state suspected involved in embezzlements.

Nishant Yadav DC Karnal ordered physical verification of stocks of nearly 35 rice mills and said that in case of embezzlements are found to register cases against them with police and attach their properties. A delegation of rice millers met DC a couple of days ago requesting not to register cases against rice millers and said that in past five years none of the rice miller in the area has been declared defaulter. Nishant Yadav said, rice millers are required to to deliver all good quality rice stocks to government agencies by July 15, 2020 to avoid action against them as per government orders. He said, defaulter will not be spared at any cost.