Corruption in regulated marketing to be probed

SILCHAR, Dec 20: Public complaints about large scale corruption in the functioning of the previous Cachar District Regulated Marketing Board (CDRMB) would be probed and appropriate action would be initiated against those found guilty, said newly elected chairman of CDRMB Mujibur Rahman Barbhuiya here yesterday. There has been serious anomalies in regard to distribution of Kisan Credit Cards which, according to his information, have not been received by the target group of farmers.

Barbhuiya said he will sit with the managers of different banks in order to evolve the mechanism and check irregularities to impart a fair and transparent mechanism in the board.

All the revenue collection gates for agriculture-products on the borders of Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya would be monitored and loopholes, if any,  would be plugged, Barbhuiya said. He also said that CDRMB would move the Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma for supplying high-yielding seeds of green vegetables and grains for round the year cultivation and production which would boost the farmers economically. In all the seven constituencies of the district, he would explore the possibilities of setting up cold storages for agricultural products which would be then taken to  central warehouses for marketing. This would reduce the transportation cost and make marketing profitable for farmers, he added.

Barbhuiya further said that efforts would be made to have market sheds for cluster of villages with better road connectivity. The board would also take up with the minister concerned the matter of 3,500  hectares of farmland at Motinagar area belonging to the CDRMB now under the occupation of CRPF. Also, farmlands with profuse vegetation should be returned to the board for its proper management to generate employment and revenue.

CDRMB constituted in 1998 with its office at  Ghungoor near Silchar Medical College has been  working in the interest of farmers by providing them incentives for better management of their agricultural land and arrange for their marketing for better profits. The new board was formed on Thursday last with 12 members. For the last one-and-a-half-year, district agriculture officer Subrata Bhattacharya was looking after the affairs of the board. THE SENTINEL