Paddy delivered, Markfed wants to cancel allotment

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, November 26

The working of the Markfed authorities in the district have come under the scanner after its district manager wrote to the District Food and Civil Supplies Controller to cancel the allotment of paddy to a Ratolan-based rice mill after the delivery of Rs35 lakh paddy to it last month.

The owner of the mill has accused the district manager of demanding money and written to the senior authorities seeking action against him. However, the district manager has denied the allegations. “After the allotment of paddy to RK Jain Rice and General Mills, Ratolan, on October 8, 2018, Markfed delivered 5,300 bags of paddy worth Rs35 lakh for milling. However, after the delivery, the Markfed district manager issued a letter for the cancellation of allotment after I refused to pay him money,” said mill owner Rajan Jain.

“District manager Gurbir Singh had been alleging that I was declared defaulter by an arbitrator in 2012 in misappropriation of paddy worth Rs45 lakh,” he said.

“In 2012, two other millers were declared defaulters for misappropriation of Rs45-lakh paddy. I was never declared a defaulter and I have all documents. Had I been a defaulter, why Markfed issued NOC and released my last year payment and allotted paddy to me. I will meet the CM with all documents to expose them,” he said.

He said then district manager, Markfed, and even chief manager (P&R), Markfed, Chandigarh, through their letters had stated that his mill could not be considered a defaulter.

However, Gurbir Singh denied the allegations, saying he would take legal action against Jain. “The allotment was done as a routine, but when a letter from my head office directing not to make allotment to this mill came to my notice, I stopped the delivery. If need be, we will shift all paddy to another mill and will seek police help.”