Fee evasion: Flying squad to keep close tabs in Sec 26 Mandi

Chandigarh: Suspecting large-scale evasion of market fees in Sector 26 Sabzi Mandi, the secretary of the State Agriculture Marketing Board has constituted a flying squad/joint inspection team to conduct random checks.
The squad will carry out surprise inspections in the mandi to detect evasion of market fees by examining the auction register, gate register, etc. The market committee charges market fees from commission agents, who in turn pass it on to the buyer. It has come to notice that the market fees collected by the commission agents from buyers are not being deposited with the market, allegedly in connivance with local market officials.
The squad will also check the prices/rates of commodities being sold in the market, as well as the weights and measures of the agricultural produce in the Mandi, and it will take corrective measures. A key responsibility of the team will be to monitor the prices of essential items at Sector 26 Mandi.
Weight measures of most traders in the market are said to be not calibrated as per laid down norms. This not only negatively impacts the buyers but also leads to a loss to the exchequer as it lowers the collection of certification and calibration fees.
Notably, UT administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, in a review meeting of the food and supply department in November last year, had instructed the senior department officials to ensure the use of correctly calibrated weights and measures.
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