2-wheeler, car numbers shown to be of trucks to get wheat lifting contract

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, April 10

Some rice millers have got wheat lifting contracts by showing the registration numbers of two-wheelers and other vehicles as of trucks in the district. Apart from it, they also allegedly showed many trucks of the Dirba Trucker Association (DTA) as their own and truckers have demanded strict legal action against them.

As per sources, a committee under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ghanshayam Thori allotted tenders for wheat lifting of Sangrur, Sunam and Dirba areas three days back to rice millers. But during the analysis of truck numbers, submitted by millers during the tendering process , it has come to light that there are around 29 registration numbers which are of tractors, cars, motorcycles, scooters, harvesters and Boleros.

“Millers have shown 75 trucks of the Dirba Trucker Association as their own without taking the consent of truck operators and it is a fraud with the government and us. All 75 truckers have given in writing that they do not have any connection with the millers. The government must not allow such frauds,” said Ajay Singla along with other 11 members of the management committee of the DTA.

The state government had directed all DCs to allot tenders for wheat lifting at the rate of below 120 Standard Operating Rate (SOR). But since truckers had boycotted the tendering process, the Sangrur administration allotted tenders at the rate of 111 SOR in haste without properly checking the details of vehicles.

“They have given registration numbers of scooters and other vehicles as of trucks. We are checking the lists of all trucks and have detected around 30 such vehicles as yet,” said Jaspreet Kahlon, Sangrur District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC).

AAP MLA from Dirba Harpal Singh Cheema alleged that Congress men and officers had formed nexus to facilitate such frauds.

“It is the responsibility of officers to check the numbers of trucks before allotment of tenders. The CM must look into the matter and take strict action against officers and millers,” said Cheema.

Deputy Commissioner Thori said he would look into the matter. “The DFSC will conduct detailed investigations for appropriate legal action,” said the DC.