BJD members involved in paddy procurement irregularities?

Bhubaneswar:  Senior BJD leaders from Kendrapara were involved in the 2015-16 paddy procurement scam in Kendrapara, alleged Congress MLA from Rajnagar Anshuman Mohanty who has submitted documentary proof regarding the same to the Chief Minister’s Office.

Mohanty alleged that procurement unit of the Marketing Federation Limited (Markfed) in Kendrapara , instead of buying the paddy from farmers, bought them from middlemen during 2015-16.

The irregularities were executed with support of Kendrapara District President Dhruba Sahoo- also a board member of Markfed, reveal the documents.

Mohanty alleged that, “Instead of farmers, the Markfed procured paddy from the middlemen as per the handwritten list  prepared by Sahoo amounting to  Rs 1 crore scam.”

As per allegations, Sahoo, along with BJD leader Pramod, influenced the Markfed manager to purchase paddy from the list of farmers prepared by them at a  price of Rs 600-700 per quintal even as the government had fixed minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 1,410 per quintal.

Although only 13,787.76 quintal paddy was procured, the duo forced the Markfed officials to submit a report stating that  21,000 quintal had been procured. After the district Markfed officials informed their higher-ups, a probe was initiated by a special squad.

“Paddy of nearly Rs 3 crore was procured through middlemen. I have already informed the higher ups.” Akhaya Mohapatra, a Markfed official of Kendrapara unit revealed.

Sahoo, when contacted, refused to comment on the matter.

It may be noted that in June 2017, the Odisha government had directed the Vigilance  to probe into the allegations. “I will be able to comment anything only after getting the findings of the inquiry,” Cooperation Minister Surya Narayan Patro said.