Karnataka - Bijapur   

‘Act against shopkeepers charging more for fertilizer'

Bijapur: President of the zilla panchayat Somnath Bagalkot has instructed the Joint Director of the Agriculture Department to initiate stringent action against shopkeepers charging more from farmers for seeds and fertilizer.

Speaking at the monthly Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) review meeting here on Monday, Mr. Bagalkot said that the authorities had received complaints from farmers in this regard.

He said that a proposal had been sent to the State Government seeking more agricultural equipment for the district at subsidised rates as the demand for them had increased considerably in the current season.

He also stated that separate teams had been formed in the district to look into the sale of spurious seeds and fertilizer. The licences of such shopkeepers would be cancelled immediately, he warned. Mr. Bagalkot said the district had ample stock of seeds and fertilizer which were being distributed through different centres.

Steps were being taken to open agriculture advisory centres in all taluks to provide information on which farm activity had to be taken up depending on climatic conditions, he added.

Instructed

Mr. Bagalkot instructed the Deputy Director of Public Instruction to file criminal cases against officers who had not purchased equipment for 17 schools in the district even though funds had been released. He also instructed the DDPI to invite tenders for purchase of equipment required by schools for the current academic year.

Mr. Bagalkot also instructed the officers of the district Health Department to take steps to prevent the spread of contagious diseases and conduct awareness programmes at regular intervals.

Vice-president of the zilla panchayat Bhagirathi Chauhan and Chief Executive Officer A.N. Patil were present.

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