5,600 crop residue management machines go missing in Ferozepur

A total of 5,600 crop residue management machines, purchased after availing government subsidy, have been found missing in Ferozepur district.

A report in this regard was sent by the Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner to the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department. Administrative Secretary of the department Dr Basant Garg has now suspended Guru Har Sahai Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh and issued a chargesheet to Ferozepur District Agriculture Officer Gurpreet Singh Sidhu.

According to the report sent to the Agriculture Department on July 24, 12,452 machines have been purchased for stubble management in Ferozepur district so far, out of which only 6,852 are in working condition. The department has failed to inform about the status of the remaining 5,600 machines.

The report says the District Agriculture Officer has also failed to reduce the area under paddy cultivation in Ferozepur district. According to the report, the District Agriculture Officer was asked to provide details of the subsidised agricultural machinery on July 2, but the officer did not do so till July 24.

Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh has also been suspended and posted at the head office. Director (Agriculture) Jaswant Singh said the department had taken action based on the report of the Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur. He said a detailed investigation was still needed in the matter.