Probe Into Paddy, Maize Stocks Irregularities In Mahabubabad

MAHABUBABAD: Vigilance and enforcement teams along with representatives of the MARKFED department have held inspections in Mahabubabad district following allegations of irregularities in the stocks of paddy and maize procured from farmers.

At the Kesamudram agricultural market, where MARKFED had stored more than 300,000 bags of maize, officials launched a field-level inquiry after reports that maize bags disappeared from the stockyard and attempts were made to sell them in the open market.

The raid teams seized 23 bags of maize and initiated an investigation to determine how the grain was diverted despite the security arrangements being entrusted to a contractor.

In a separate development, vigilance and enforcement teams also inspected a rice mill in Kesamudram mandal as fine-grade paddy allotted by the civil supplies department for custom milling went missing.

Earlier this week, inspections conducted at several rice mills in the district revealed that some millers had diverted government-procured paddy. Officials had submitted reports recommending criminal action against such millers.

Complaints now surfaced against a new ice mill in Kesamudram that paddy allocated for milling was illegally sold instead of being processed and returned to the government. Officials were engaged in physically verifying and counting the paddy bags stored at the mill to ascertain any discrepancies.

The alleged diversion of government-procured maize and paddy has created concern in Kesamudram mandal, with authorities intensifying their investigation to identify those responsible and determine the extent of the irregularities.