OSD to CM finds ‘damaged’ wheat supplied to depots

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, November 30

Amrinder Singh, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, raided a godown of the Food and Supplies Department in Jundla today and found damaged wheat was being allegedly sent to depots under the Public Distribution System (PDS).

He found that instead of commercial vehicles, tractor and trollies were used to supply wheat to depots.

Samples of wheat were taken. The OSD said samples would be sent to a lab for quality check.

Singh directed District Food and Supply Controller (DFSC) Nishant Rathi to take action against an inspector, who ordered the supply of damaged wheat to depots, and a contractor who was not using commercial vehicles.

He directed officials and contractor to supply wheat in commercial vehicles only.

On a tip-off that damaged wheat was being sent to nearly 40 depots in Nissing from the Jundla godown, the OSD visited the godown and directed officials to call back the vehicle carrying wheat.

On checking the vehicle and the godown, he found a large stock of damaged wheat meant to be sent to depots.

“Damaged wheat is mixed with good quality of grains. It is a serious negligence as people’s health is involved,” the OSD said.

He suspected the involvement of other officials. “There could be a nexus of officers involved in this. They should be mindful of the BJP government not tolerating corrupt practices,” Singh said.

“I have written to the higher authorities against the inspector of the godown,” the DFSC said.