Punjab News Epress
CHANDIGARH: Sukhpal Singh Khaira former MLA and PPCC spokesman today alleged rampant corruption by the Director Agriculture in ordering sub standard Oberon pesticide worth Rs. 33 crore without competitive tendering, the core reason for destruction of cotton crop due to whitefly attack in Punjab.
In a statement here Khaira said that there has been tremendous hue and cry by the farmers of Malwa region of complete destruction of their precious cotton crop, due to uncontrolled whitefly attack. We have learnt that the farmers have been forced to plough more than 50 percent of their cotton crop, due to the whitefly menace. In other words, more than 2.5 lac hectares of the total 5 lac hectares cotton crop worth thousands of crores stands completely destroyed, due to greed of politicians and bureaucrats.
He stated that as per record available, the Director Agriculture in a brazen illegitimate order throwing all transparent norms to the winds, placed a direct order with the M/s Bayer Crop Science Ltd. Co. to supply 92, 000 liters of Oberon pesticide, worth Rs. 33 crore to 8 districts of Malwa. The said illegal order was placed without any competitive transparent bidding or tendering.
Although, PAU recommended pesticides Spiromesifen, Polo and Trisophas (Markfed) pesticides were available at less than Rs. 3000 per liter in the market but the Chief Agriculture Officers of the said 8 districts of Malwa, were forced to purchase the substandard Oberon for a whopping Rs. 3550 per liter.
He said that this blatantly illegitimate order of the Director Agriculture smacks of gross favoritism, nepotism and utter disregard for transparency and accountability. The Director Agriculture could not have had the courage to make such a large order, without the blessings of the Agriculture Minister Jathedar Tota Singh. The fact of Agriculture Minister indulging in corruption also stands corroborated by recovery of Rs. 40 lac cash from officers of a pesticide company by the police, at a checkpoint in Baghapurana recently, who were released on the asking of Jathedar Tota Singh.
The said Director Agriculture Mangal Singh Sandhu belongs to V. Pakki of Lambi constituency and is closely related to Jathedar Dyal Singh Koliyanwali, a very close confidant of Badal CM. This only further indicates to a deep corrupt nexus between the Badals-Jathedar Tota Singh and Mangal Singh Sandhu, Director Agriculture.
Congress party also trashes and debunks the eyewash probe by a SIT ordered by the junior Badal on the 9th September, as the Punjab Police stands totally politicized and is working like a tool in the hands of the Badals. This is yet another blatant attempt of the Badals to shield their corrupt Ministers and Director Agriculture.
Congress also outrightly rejects the meager compensation of Rs. 10 crore ordered by the CM Mr. Badal, this is nothing but rubbing salt on the wounds of the aggrieved farmers who have suffered losses to the tune of thousands of crores.
Therefore, Congress demands a judicial inquiry into the dubious order of Rs. 33 crore placed with the said private firm to supply Oberon pesticide, without any tendering process. Congress party also demands a minimum compensation of Rs. 25, 000 per acre for farmers who have lost their cotton crop, due to whitefly attack.