The Karimnagar Commissionerate of Police is set to crack down on the manufacturers of spurious seeds and fertilizers to protect farmers from suffering huge losses.
Task Force teams are already on the job of the checking supply of fake seeds and fertilizers in the district. Now the district police will initiate a special drive in this regard before the onset of monsoon so that dealers mend their ways and supply quality seeds to farmers to take up cultivation.
The preliminary drive itself yielded good results with the busting of a fake seed manufacturing racket in Huzurabad town on Thursday. During the raid, police seized 49 quintals of spurious cotton seeds worth ₹70 lakh from a rice mill. However, the accused, Gajula Srinivas Goud, is large and a manhunt has been launched to nab him.
Speaking to The Hindu, Commissioner of Police V.B .Kamalasan Reddy said the supply of spurious seeds and fertilizers happens every year during the cultivation season from June. Task Force teams would conduct surprise inspections of shops and godowns following tip-offs on the possible supply of spurious seeds, he added.
Besides, intelligence networks have been alerted for collection of information about transportation of spurious material from neighbouring states and vehicles are being checked, Mr. Reddy revealed.
“This time, we will make sure that no farmer is affected by the supply of spurious seeds,” he said, warning that PD Act would be invoked against those involved in the supply and transportation of spurious seeds in any part of the district. He has called upon local residents and farmers to alert the police if they notice any suspicious activities in this regard.