Assam: A major Scam Related to the important Scheme of the Agriculture Department of Assam ‘National Seeds Reserve (NSR) has come to light. Based on Government documents obtained under RTI, the Right to Information Activists Association has recently Submitted a detailed complaint letter to State Agriculture Minister Piyush Hazarika Stating that more than Rs 6 crore of Public money has been misused by Showing Paper distribution in the name of emergency seeds in the last three financial Years. The complaint alleges that a total amount of about Rs. 2 crore Per annum and a total of Rs. 6+ Crore was allocated to a Private Contractor Named “Annapurna Seed Growers Committee” in three Years without following the open tender Process for the essential works of the Scheme.
Government records Show 30,000 Quintals of Paddy seed Storage for emergency use by the said institution, While field verification found nowhere to be found. The complaint further alleges that the contractor took Payment for every Quintal of seeds from the Government account by making fictitious bills in the name of Storage, internal transportation, loading-Packing, Storage bag Purchase and fumigation. The imposed rates include Storage Rs 510 Per Quintal, internal transport Rs 200 Per Quintal, burden and Packing Rs 250 Per Quintal, bag Purchase Rs 50 Per Quintal and fumigation Rs 10 Per Quintal. According to the complaint, lakhs of rupees were withdrawn by making these accounts despite the absence of actual Physical Seeds. The allotment orders did not give the address of any warehouse or Storage location and the contractor did not even have a valid seed license and correct GST registration. It is alleged that the owners of the trucks used in the transport bills said that they never carried the seeds and that the ‘farmer Groups’ Who were described as seed Producers were found to be ‘ex’ lists or fake lists that did not even have Phone numbers. A Part from this, it is alleged that some amounts were transferred directly to the Private bank accounts of the individuals and no actual sample was sent for seed testing, but fake certificates were made.
The RTI activist organization has demanded that the entire Scandal be investigated through the ‘Chief Minister Special Ad-hoc Cell’, a criminal case be filed against the officials and contractors involved and the Rs 6+ crore allegedly Siphoned off by the company be returned to the Government. The complaint also said that the five departmental officers concerned Should be suspended immediately to avoid destruction of Possible Evidence. The organization has Given the administration a deadline of 30 days, If concrete action is not taken during this time, he is threatening to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Gauhati High Court. Copies of the complaint have also been sent to the Chief Minister of the State, the Agriculture Production Commissioner, the Commissioner and Secretary of the Agriculture Department and the Managing Director of the Assam Seeds Corporation. Now it remains to be seen Whether the Assam Government, which has Given the Slogan of Zero tolerance against corruption, will take action on this serious complaint or ignore it and Promote Corruption Further.
