Team News Riveting
Raipur, March 22
The House Committee of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly would probe the alleged irregularities committed in the procurement of seeds.
Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik had sought the details of the firms and companies supplying seeds in the state and were blacklisted. Raising a pointed query, Kaushik quizzed why blacklisted firm TriMurti Plant Sciences Private Limited was paid Rs 2.61 crore after lifting ban. Interestingly, the company was again debarred after the disbursement.
Chhattisgarh’s Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey responded that a probe had already been conducted as the issue was raised earlier also in the House. He, however, admitted that TriMurti Plant Sciences Private Limited was debarred after it had supplied RCO-53 hybrid paddy seed in the year 2019-20.
The Minister said the payment was cleared after lifting the ban and was debarred again. Choubey tried to pacify the irked members and said all the dues of the company were not cleared.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members demanded a probe by the House committee, stating that the Minister has admitted irregularities in the preliminary investigation. As the opposition members continued to press their demand, the Minister agreed for a probe by a panel of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
Speaker Dr Charan Das Mahant later announced the constitution of the House Committee to probe the irregularities.
