Lokayukta: Plug holes in micro-irrigation scheme in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: Finding huge flaws and corruption in the pricing policy for implementation of micro-irrigation scheme of the Haryana horticulture department, the Lokayukta has asked the state government to evolve a procedure, so that the farmers get full benefit of the plan.
The Haryana Lokayukta also directed the state government to complete the penal proceedings as per the two inquiry reports submitted by the state vigilance bureau (SVB) or by any other inquiry officer forthwith with regard to irregularities in the scheme. The Lokayukta also made recommendations to form a committee for strict supervision of such schemes to eradicate corruption.
Besides, the state has also been told to submit an action taken report (ATR) regarding compliance of these recommendations.
“After going through the entire records, it is clear as crystal that pricing policy prevailing in the State of Haryana in the year 2012- 2013 and 2013-2014 was not in strict adherence to the National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI) guidelines. Registering a limited number of firms, who had quoted exorbitant rates, is on the face not only defective but dubious in nature… A pick and choose policy is being adopted by the horticulture department regarding the guidelines laid out in various schemes being implemented in the state,” the Lokayukta observed.
Justice Nawal Kishore Agarwal, the Haryana Lokayukta, passed these orders while hearing a complaint filed by Ram Kumar, a resident of Dulina village of district Jhajjar against the director general, deputy director (micro-irrigation) and the plasticulture specialist of the state’s horticulture department.
According to the complainant, the respondents are responsible for loss/ misappropriation of around Rs 90 crore to the state exchequer, as they approved much higher rates of micro irrigation components as compared to the rates prevailing in the state of Gujarat.
It was also alleged that the said micro-irrigation scheme was also not properly and effectively supervised and implemented with an oblique motive to grab the subsidy, in which the field and other officers of the headquarters had indulged and subsidy was issued in the fake names of farmers. It was also alleged that his complaint, dated November 6, 2012, in this regard to the then chief minister went unheard.
During the hearing of the case, the superintendent of police (SP), Lokayukta, conducted a detailed investigation in the matter and pointed to flaws in the scheme.
During the investigation, the department could not point out even a single instance in which the farmers negotiated the rates, and subsequently lower rates were charged by any of the firms, the SP has submitted in his report.
While hearing the matter, the Lokayukta also found that at least in two inquiries conducted by the vigilance, the allegations were proved against some of the public servants, against whom no appropriate action has been taken to date by the department and there is no proper supervising system to eradicate such chances of corruption.