Hoshiarpur, July 29:- Under the special campaign being run by the Director of Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department to ensure availability of quality fertilizer, seeds and pesticides to farmers, a major operation has been taken under the leadership of Chief Agriculture Officer Hoshiarpur Dr. Dapinder Singh Sandhu and a large consignment of fertilizer being supplied in an unauthorized manner has been seized.
According to the information, a raid was conducted in village Jamsher Chathial on the basis of a complaint received from the farmers. The complainants told that instead of providing fertilizer through the society, Mangarh Cooperative Society Secretary Avtar Singh and Dhugga Kalan Cooperative Society Secretary Tajinder Singh alias Raja were supplying fertilizer directly to their houses.
According to the allegations of the farmers, the concerned secretaries told that this fertilizer was brought directly from the rack. When the farmers demanded the fertilizer bill and billet, they were not given any document. After this, the farmers complained about the matter to the Chief Agriculture Officer.
As soon as the complaint was received, a team formed on the directions of Dr. Dapinder Singh Sandhu, which included Agriculture Development Officer Bhunga Manpreet, Agriculture Development Officer (PP) Dr. Simranjit Singh and Agriculture Development Officer (TA) Harpreet Singh, raided village Jamsher Chathial.
During the operation, the team seized a total of 448 bags of fertilizer, including 299 bags of DAP and 149 bags of MOP fertilizer. The seized fertilizer was handed over to the Garhdiwala police station, while two samples of DAP and MOP have also been taken for testing.
Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Dapinder Singh Sandhu said that necessary legal action has been taken against the accused under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985 and an FIR has been registered in the Garhdiwala police station.
He said that any kind of fraud, illegal business or irregularities affecting the interests of farmers will not be tolerated at any cost. He clarified that strict action in such cases will continue in future also to protect the interests of farmers.