QUALITY CONTROL DRIVE: 7 UNDERPERFORMING CHIEF AGRICULTURE OFFICERS GET SHOW CAUSE NOTICES

• Lackadaisical attitude towards duty to invite strict action, says Gurmeet Singh Khudian

Chandigarh, June 26:

On the directions of the Cabinet Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department has issued Show Cause Notices (SCNs) to seven Chief Agriculture Officers (CAO) for failing to meet quality control drive targets.

The development came a day after Agriculture Minister ordered departmental action against districts lagging behind in the quality control drive to ensure accountability and improvement.

Dr. Basant Garg, the Administrative Secretary Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, has initiated the action against the defaulting district agriculture chiefs posted in Kapurthala, Barnala, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Tarn Taran, Sangrur and Hoshiarpur districts, while directing them to respond within seven days or face further strict action as per the rules.

Reiterating the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s zero-tolerance stance against negligence, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian categorically said that officials displaying negligence or lackadaisical attitude towards duty will face the music and accountability will be fixed.

1. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the Agriculture department has constituted five flying squad teams to ensure regular monitoring and checking of Agriculture inputs for safeguarding the state farmers from exploitation. He also urged the farmers to demand proper bill on the purchase of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides and if dealers refuse to provide bills or supply substandard agri-inputs, farmers should immediately report to district agriculture offices.