Cutting across party lines, all Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency (ZPTC) members and Mandal Parishad presidents (MPP) have alleged large-scale irregularities in the distribution of tractors on subsidy to the farmers by the Agriculture Department, and demanded a thorough inquiry to punish the guilty officials.
Raising the issue during the Zilla Parishad general body meeting in Karimnagar town on Wednesday, Mallial ZPTC member Shoba Rani alleged that officials sanctioned the government subsidised tractors to rich and influential farmers, denying the benefits to small and marginal farmers who own land in the range of 2.5 to five acres, by all violating norms.
She charged that the eligible Scheduled Caste beneficiaries were also denied the subsidised tractors.
Similar views were also expressed by the Kodimial and Medipalli MPPs, who demanded a thorough inquiry to punish the guilty officials.
They also sought mandal-wise details of tractors sanctioned to the beneficiaries. At this juncture, Zilla Parishad chairperson Tula Uma intervened and stated that she received complaints about the irregularities in the same from various parts of the district.
Stating that authorities have diluted the cause of providing government benefits to real beneficiaries, the ZP chairperson informed Joint Director (Agriculture) Sucharita to order for an inquiry and ensure that the tractors are provided to genuine beneficiaries.
Earlier, the ZPTC members complained that the Agricultural Department officials failed to provide adequate seeds of various ID (irrigated dry) crops such as redgram, green gram, maize, etc. in the district.
Boinpally ZPTC member K. Latchi Reddy said that the while the government is asking people not to take up cotton cultivation during this kharif season, it has failed to provide adequate quantity of ID crop seeds .
The ZP general body meeting also discussed about the need to strengthen government schools by increasing the enrolment of students.
The ZPTC members lodged several complaints against the teachers for dereliction of duties and involving in other business activities, neglecting their prime duty of teaching in the schools.
Legislators T. Jeevan Reddy and D. Manohar Reddy, Joint Collector Pausumi Basu, and ZP CEO Suraj Kumar were also present.
