Rice millers’ assn alleges irregularities in paddy distribution, seeks probe

Our Correspondent  

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 26  

Accusing officials of the District Food and Civil Supply Department of accepting bribe during the distribution of paddy to rice millers, members of the Punjab Rice Millers’ Association have urged Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and the Principal Secretary to immediately hold an enquiry into the issue. 

A resolution in this regard was passed at a meeting of the Rice Millers’ Association. The meeting was presided over by Tarsem Saini, national president of the Rice Millers’ Association.

Addressing mediapersons here on Monday, Saini said officials of the district Food and Civil Supply Department did not bother to implement the directions of the state government while distributing paddy to rice millers due to their vested interests. 

He said, “As per the milling policy of the state government, the procured paddy should be equally distributed among all rice mills, but Food and Civil Supply officials in the district in connivance with certain millers took hefty bribe and allotted paddy against the government policy.” 

“I have spoken to the district Food and Civil Supply Controller in this regard as complaints had started pouring in. But, she did not listen to my suggestion. It resulted in unequal distribution of paddy,” Saini added. 

Despite repeated attempts, Harjit Kaur, district Food and Civil Supply Controller, did not respond to various phone calls and text message.