Vijayawada: Agriculture minister Atchannaidu told the assembly that criminal cases will be booked against all those involved in the financial irregularities in Guntur agriculture market (chilli) yard. He said that the vigilance and enforcement enquiry confirmed loss of Rs 346 crore to the exchequer.
Responding to queries during question hour in the assembly on Wednesday, Atchannaidu said that the govt had placed about 17 employees of the market yard under suspension after receiving the vigilance report. He said that they have also initiated disciplinary proceedings against the then secretary of the market yard. “The govt is also contemplating to book criminal cases against the then market yard chairman who is chiefly responsible for the whole scandal,” said Atchannaidu.
He said that the govt has tightened the security and purchase procedure to prevent further irregularities. He said that they have directed the yard officials not to renew any licenses that expired, without taking prior permission from the state govt. He said that the officials renewed the license of traders without taking approval from the commissioner in the past resulting in massive irregularities.
He said that several traders secured multiple licenses to evade income tax and other taxes. “Vigilance and enforcement enquiry found that there is loss of Rs 103 crore to the market yard in the form of agriculture market cess at the rate of 1 percent and Rs 243 crore loss to the GST at the rate of five percent as huge stocks were moved out of the yard without entries in the register and avoided payment of taxes and cess,” said Atchannaidu.
Ponnur legislator Dhulipalla Narendra alleged that merchants were looting farmers without payment of dues.
Prattipadu legislator B Ramanjaneyulu said that the govt is losing heavily due to the malpractices of traders. He said that market yard is getting just around Rs 100 crore against the expected Rs 250 crore and GST collections were just around Rs 250 crore against Rs 1,250 crore. He said that the farmers were losing around Rs 2,000 per quintal due to the irregularities of traders. Guntur East legislator Naseer Ahmed said that the previous management at the market yard diverted huge funds to personal works including renovation of the chambers and pocketed public money. He urged the minister to initiate criminal proceedings against the market committee which looted the public money instead of targeting the employees alone.
* We have ordered recovery of Rs 13 crore from operations and maintenance contractor on the charges of misappropriation of funds with bogus claims: Atchannaidu
Responding to queries during question hour in the assembly on Wednesday, Atchannaidu said that the govt had placed about 17 employees of the market yard under suspension after receiving the vigilance report. He said that they have also initiated disciplinary proceedings against the then secretary of the market yard. “The govt is also contemplating to book criminal cases against the then market yard chairman who is chiefly responsible for the whole scandal,” said Atchannaidu.
He said that the govt has tightened the security and purchase procedure to prevent further irregularities. He said that they have directed the yard officials not to renew any licenses that expired, without taking prior permission from the state govt. He said that the officials renewed the license of traders without taking approval from the commissioner in the past resulting in massive irregularities.
He said that several traders secured multiple licenses to evade income tax and other taxes. “Vigilance and enforcement enquiry found that there is loss of Rs 103 crore to the market yard in the form of agriculture market cess at the rate of 1 percent and Rs 243 crore loss to the GST at the rate of five percent as huge stocks were moved out of the yard without entries in the register and avoided payment of taxes and cess,” said Atchannaidu.
Ponnur legislator Dhulipalla Narendra alleged that merchants were looting farmers without payment of dues.
Prattipadu legislator B Ramanjaneyulu said that the govt is losing heavily due to the malpractices of traders. He said that market yard is getting just around Rs 100 crore against the expected Rs 250 crore and GST collections were just around Rs 250 crore against Rs 1,250 crore. He said that the farmers were losing around Rs 2,000 per quintal due to the irregularities of traders. Guntur East legislator Naseer Ahmed said that the previous management at the market yard diverted huge funds to personal works including renovation of the chambers and pocketed public money. He urged the minister to initiate criminal proceedings against the market committee which looted the public money instead of targeting the employees alone.
* We have ordered recovery of Rs 13 crore from operations and maintenance contractor on the charges of misappropriation of funds with bogus claims: Atchannaidu
