Haryana: Rice millers’ defy delivery rules, no action on officials
By Parveen Arora
During the 2023–24 paddy procurement season, five rice millers in the district failed to deliver custom-milled rice (CMR) worth around Rs 22 crore to the government.
A similar trend has continued over the years. In 2022–23, five millers defaulted, while two millers failed to deliver CMR in 2021–22. Defaults were reported from five millers in 2020–21, four in 2019–20, three in 2017–18, one in 2016–17, four in 2015–16, six in 2014–15, and as many as 16 millers in 2013–14, causing huge financial losses to the government exchequer.
A senior official associated with a procurement agency confirmed that while FIRs are registered and properties of defaulter millers are attached, no procurement agency official has been charge-sheeted or held financially responsible for lapses in allotment or recovery in the past few years. The official alleged that in several cases, millers’ stocks and assets were not properly secured, weakening recovery proceedings. He also claimed that paddy was sometimes allotted to the same defaulters by changing the names of firms.
Another official pointed out that instead of strict recovery, agencies often accept partial payments, with assurances of further payments through cheques. “Collecting money in instalments does not resolve the core issue of outstanding paddy recovery,” the official said.
When contacted, Karnal District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) Anil Kumar said notices had been issued to five defaulter millers of last season and their rice mills, shops and residential properties have been attached. “The auction process of attached properties will be carried out to recover pending dues soon,” he said.
Out of these five millers, a couple of millers have made partial payments and they have assured to clear the remaining dues soon.
The DFSC said provisions exist to charge-sheet procurement officials in cases of negligence but he could not provide details on how many officials have faced action so far.
“We have sent the names of the officials concerned responsible for allotment and recovery to the headquarters and the further action will be taken by the higher authorities,” he added.
This article has been republished from The Tribune.