Commission agent in dock for 'cheating' wheat farmers in Muktsar

After two unauthorised grain yards were recently found operating near the official grain market in Gidderbaha, a commission agent has now been issued a show-cause notice for allegedly fleecing farmers at the Kauni focal point.

The Market Committee, Muktsar, has directed the commission agent to respond within 24 hours.

Balkar Singh, Secretary, Market Committee, Muktsar, said, “At Kauni village focal point, wheat bags were checked and found to be overweight on Sunday. It was discovered that the commission agent had, on an average, weighed each bag with 350 grams of excess wheat.”

“Now, these farmers will be compensated for the excess quantity. Besides, the commission agent has been asked to submit a reply within 24 hours,” he added.

Earlier, two unauthorised grain yards were reportedly found abuzz with activity in Gidderbaha when officials conducted surprise inspections. Nearly 2,500 gunny bags filled with wheat were found at the sites, where loading was under way, according to sources. The two commission agents behind the unauthorised operations were slapped with a penalty of nearly Rs 1.7 lakh for bypassing mandatory market committee fees, thereby causing a financial loss to the committee.

Anil Khunger, Secretary, Market Committee, Gidderbaha, had said, “Although both agents had applied for permission, it was never granted. Despite that, they went ahead with unauthorised operations. The penalty of nearly Rs 1.7 lakh has been recovered from them. I urge farmers to bring their produce only to authorised mandis.”

Meanwhile, there is a glut of wheat in some mandis as the arrival of grain far exceeds the rate of lifting.