Food inspectors told not to charge interest from arhtiyas
Tribune News Service
Rohtak, September 19
The Department of Food Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs has directed the District Food and Supply Controllers (DFSCs) across the state not to charge interest from arhtiyas after the date when they made payment to farmers for this season’s wheat procurement through RTGS/cheque in place of government e-kharid portal.
A total of Rs42-crore interest has been charged from the arhtiyas in the name of delayed payment even when a majority of them paid in time. Now, the DFSCs will return the interest charged after the date of payment.
In compliance with the state authorities’ directive, the DFSCs had slapped 15 per cent interest on arthiyas for making payment to farmers after a stipulated time of three days. The interest was deducted from their commission released in July. Since then the arhtiyas had been demanding the release of the deducted commission while terming the interest as ‘unjustified’.
“A large number of arhtiyas paid the farmers through the RTGS/cheque in time but uploaded the consent form on the e-kharid portal after several days due to the lack of knowledge. Hence, 15 per cent interest was charged from them for delay as the portal was showing the amount as unpaid before uploading the form. The interest amount was deducted from the arhtiyas’ commission,” said Harsh Girdhar, vice-president, Haryana Anaj Mandi Arhtiyas Association.
“Last year, the government delayed in making our payment for the wheat crop and assured us of giving interest for that period but the interest has not yet been paid even after one-and-half years,” Girdhar added.
District Food and Supply Controller (DFSC) Virender, however, said the interest was slapped for delayed payment as per the portal’s reports.
“A total of Rs 4.70 lakh interest was charged from the arthiyas in Rohtak district. The amount has been withheld following the directives of the state authorities,” he added.
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