A complaint by an aggrieved single woman farmer from Miryalguda — K. Narsamma — to the District Collector at the weekly Prajavani grievance redressal programme has blown the lid on a systematic cheating of farmers by officials in the Horticulture Department.
Following the complaint the District Collector ordered a departmental inquiry on the same day, March 28.
Unending wait
However, more than two months later, Narsamma waits for action on the officials, and sanction of funds for the pandal (creeper cultivation) pole units she erected along with her late husband in 2015.
According to her, a horticulture extension officer (HEO) in the mandal demanded ₹ 50,000 bribe for the sanction, and another took ₹ 12,000 to supply the seed.
“They also took photographs of the installation, but 20 days later I found that another farmer had received the amount based on my bills,” she said.
Bigger scandal
Departmental inquiry uncovered a bigger scandal, an officer requesting anonymity told The Hindu.
At least seven farmers in Miryalaguda said they received ₹ 1 lakh towards each pandal unit in the Nagarjuna Sagar Project ayacut.
“But the actual benefit is ₹ 1.79 lakh per unit. We could not find why the farmers were paid less, or where the remaining funds were accounted,” the officer said.
However, the mandal officers allegedly involved in the misappropriation pointed to a few horticulture officers in Nalgonda, who were responsible for clearing the bills.
Fake bills
Allegations surrounding the top officials also include creation of fake bills and procurement of low quality products (mulching sheet, trays and sprayers) from a store run by a relative of one of the officials.
Earlier, only officers at the mandal-level were served notices seeking explanation, however, those in the headquarters were delaying action, to avoid suspension or transfer of officials till June 15, after which the ban on employee transfers would come into effect.