The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Officer suspended, two others served memos

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 30, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Officer suspended, two others served memos

N. Rahul

Raghuveera Reddy conducts surprise checks on shops selling seed, fertilizer and pesticide

Minister blasts officials for not inspecting the outlets and checking licences
Raghuveera sore at shopkeepers for not indicating the stocks available with them

- Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Acting tough: Village Agricultural Officer S. Vijayabharathi showing pesticides to Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy during the latter’s surprise check at Chevella village in Ranga Reddy district on Wednesday.

CHEVELLA (Rangareddy dt): An Agriculture Officer was placed under suspension and the Joint and Assistant Directors of Agriculture of Ranga Reddy district were served charge memos for dereliction of duty after Agriculture Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy conducted surprise checks on shops selling seed, fertilizer and pesticides here on Wednesday.

Criticised

While giving full marks to the shop owners for satisfactorily meeting the farmers’ requirements during the peak agricultural season, the Minister blasted the officials for not inspecting the outlets and checking licences.

Agriculture Officer of Chevella, S. Vijayabharathi, had not visited the shops ever since she was posted here in December.

This was evident from her not signing the stock registers at the shops.

Moreover, she retained the licence referred to her for renewal of permission to sell pesticide by M/s. Sainath Seeds and Fertilizers for eight months.

As a result, the shop owner was selling pesticide without a licence.

Expresses displeasure

The Minister was sore that the officials did not collect the required quantity of samples of seed, fertilizer and pesticide in the shops in the mandal headquarters village.

He also expressed displeasure at the shopkeepers not indicating the stocks available with them on the display boards.

Mr. Raghuveera Reddy said contrary to the requirement that the agricultural officers inspect shops selling agricultural inputs every six months and collect samples, Mr. Reddy said Ms. Vijayabharathi had not visited any of the four shops that he visited.

Threatens action

In spite of the serious lapse on her part, he had to observe restraint as she was a woman official.

A few shops in the village had downed shutters on learning about the Minister’s visit but Mr. Reddy got one of them opened.

Mr. Reddy also warned of serious action against the Joint Director, S. Vijayalaxmi, and Assistant Director, R.Lakshman Rao, if they were found at fault.

The farmers complained to the Minister that the shopkeepers were collecting an additional Rs. 10 on Godavari Di-ammonium Phosphate urea which costs Rs. 250 for a pack of 50 kg.

Weighing machines

The Minister complimented the shop owners for maintaining reliable weighing machines and supplying to farmers in line with demand.

In view of the suspension of the agriculture officer, he asked the departmental staff to be serious in the discharge of their duties.

No lenience would be shown if they were found to be lax as the Government was committed to the uplift of farmers.

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