ED coming to probe Rs 1,178 crore crop residual machinery scam, Punjab agricultural officials told to have records ready

Vishav Bharti

Chandigarh, June 28

The jittery state government has asked its field agricultural officials to be ready with the record related to Rs 1,178 crore crop residual machinery scam as, it says, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) can hold inspection anytime. The ED had started the investigation into the alleged scam.

‘Rs 1,178 cr subsidy received, machinery not bought’

34 farm machinery banks in Bathinda were supposed to be established with the help of 80 per cent Central subsidy

The state received the subsidy, but the farm machinery banks reportedly remained only on paper

In a communication sent to all Chief Agriculture Officers on Friday, the Director (Agriculture) said the ED could hold inspection anytime soon.

“So three copies of the entire record related to the Crop Residual Management (CRM) and Sub-mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) schemes should be kept handy and can be required any time,” the communication read.

The Tribune broke the story on the scam on October 18, 2019. It was then highlighted that 34 farm machinery banks in Bathinda were supposed to be established with the help of 80 per cent Central subsidy. The state received the subsidy, but the farm machinery banks remained only on paper.

The previous Congress government had failed to act on time and the scam continued for the next three years, gaining such a huge proportion.

When the matter was flagged, the previous government had tried to cover it up. But then Agriculture Minister Randeep Singh Nabha, in a letter to PM Narendra Modi, blew the lid off the Rs 1,178 crore scam that took place in his own government. He had also demanded a probe by the CBI.

Nabha had claimed the Central subsidy of Rs 1,178 crore was given for four years for buying machinery. However, the equipment was never bought, he had claimed.

Subsequently, the ED started the investigation into the matter under the PMLA and sought record from the state Agriculture Department.