Case of vanishing pump sets ; Distributed in 2009, not a trace now
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 07 2012:
Even though Ministers and MLAs were witnesses to distribution of 300 water pump-sets to farmers by Agriculture Department in 2009 when the State was hit by drought, the pump-sets were never returned to the department.
The pump-sets were purchased by the department and distributed to farmers with the objective of easing the woes of farmers resulting from acute shortage of water for paddy cultivation.
The pump-sets were distributed to farmers recommended by Ministers and MLAs through their DO letters, said one officer of Agriculture Department.
As a rule, those pump-sets distributed by the department should be returned to the department but none of the pump-sets were returned.
Efforts to take back the pumps-sets proved futile even after roping in police.
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This year too, in view of the drought like situation, the department is providing 250 water pump-sets of 5/8 HP capacity to farmers.
On being enquired about the possible shortage of rice in view of the shortage of water, the official said that no estimate has been made on this year's paddy yield as paddy plants have not flowered yet.
To another question regarding how many hectares of paddy fields have been irrigated using pump-sets provided by Agriculture Department, the official said that no official reports have been received from District Agriculture Officers.
To make up the deficit which would be caused by shortage of water, the department has set a target of cultivating early varieties of paddy in 10,000 acres.
In addition, the department is planning to cultivate maize in 2000 acres, peas in 2000 acres, mustard in 20,000 acres and wheat in 500 acres during the rabi season.
Regarding non-disposal of chemicals which contain cyanide, the officer said that the department has written twice to the Ghaziabad based Plant Protection Advisor but there has been no response so far.