Shivraj inspects Shajapur grain market

Bhopal, Apr 21: The Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan paid a surprise visit to the Krishi Upaj Mandi at Shajapur on Monday and issued instructions to hold an enquiry of a trader Dhanraj Rathore for purchasing wheat at less than minimum support price (MSP) and concerning employee of Marketing Society Devi Singh to file FIR against them if found guilty. The Chief Minister inspected the samples of FAQ quality wheat on the mandi premises.

The chief Minister undertook a surprise visit to the Krishi Mandi, inspected the samples and exposed irregularities. He tested the sample of wheat brought by a farmer Ishwar Singh from village Kharkhari in Ujjain district for selling. Despite it being good quality wheat, the trader Dhanraj Rathore purchased it at Rs 900 per quintal, which is far less than the support price. The Chief Minister directed the collector to complete the enquiry into the case today itself and to file an FIR against the concerning firm if found guilty.

It may be mentioned here that earlier the Chief Minister had directed that if FAQ wheat is purchased at less than support price, FIR should be filed against the concerning firms and traders. While inspecting the Shajapur mandi the Chief Minsiter said that the farmers be paid immediately after weighing of the wheat. If wheat is purchased by a cooperative society then the payment should be made by cheque and if traders purchase it the payment should be made in cash. He directed to appoint a responsible officer or tahasildar at the procurement centres for this arrangement.

While addressing the farmers on the mandi campus Chouhan said that the state government is alive to the problems of farmers and it would be ensured that they get their due and remunerative price of their produce. If any trader or anybody else commits any irregularity against farmers, strict action would be taken against them. Shri Chouhan talked to the farmers and the latter apprised him of their problems. He gave a patient hearing to them.