Probe launched into ‘fake’ DSR entries in Muktsar dist

After a complaint surfaced about bogus area being reported under the direct seeding of rice (DSR) scheme to claim the Rs 1,500 per acre incentive, Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Abhijeet Kaplish has ordered a joint probe by officials of the Agriculture and Revenue departments.

Notably, Muktsar is the home district of Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, who is the MLA from Lambi.

Meanwhile, some farmers demanded the appointment of a senior nodal officer, warning that the facts might not emerge otherwise. “If a senior officer re-verifies the entire area in the district, many skeletons will tumble out of the cupboard. Last year, complaints were received about bogus DSR areas in Lambi as well, but no action was taken, and the matter was hushed up,” they said.

Sources said the current complaint pertains to the Gulabewala circle, though similar reports had emerged from some other areas.

As per rules, farmers must register on the Agriculture Department’s portal, providing details of the area to be brought under the DSR technique. Department officials then conduct two verifications before sending the approved data to the head office for releasing the incentive directly to the farmer. Officials said the incentive was due to be released soon.

Karanjit Singh, Joint Director of Agriculture, recently promoted from Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “The Deputy Commissioner has assigned us to probe the alleged bogus DSR entries. The report will be ready soon, as some holidays delayed the process.” He confirmed that a similar complaint had been received from Lambi last year, but did not comment on the outcome.

The DSR technique helps in saving water by 10-20 per cent in comparison to the traditional method of transplantation of paddy seedlings.

The district has a total of 2.03 lakh hectares under paddy and basmati cultivation, of which 88,000 acres are reported under the DSR technique. Officials said the bogus area not only inflates the reported DSR figures in the state but also leads to financial losses in the form of unwarranted incentives.