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Bureaucratic apathy towards farmers upsets CM
Mulayam is unhappy over the apathy shown in tackling the problems of drought-hit farmers, reports Masoodul Hasan.
The Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav is unhappy over the bureaucratic apathy in tackling the problems of drought-hit farmers in the state.
Issuing a stern warning in Lucknow on Monday the chief minister asked the divisional commissioners and district magistrates to effectively deal with the situation or face disciplinary action.
Reviewing the prevailing acute scarcity situation Yadav has directed the officers of agriculture, cooperative, irrigation and energy to solve the farmers' problem without further delay.
There are already large numbers of reports about farmers committing suicides or dying of starvation in the worst affected Bundelkhand region.
The chief minister asked the senior officers that commissioners and district magistrates should ensure supply of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and irrigation water up to tail end.
He said supply of seeds and other materials should be provided at block development offices. Yadav said action would be taken against departmental heads for slackness in duty.
He said the district magistrates and SPs would take effective measures to control smuggling of fertilizers to Nepal and Bihar.
He said failure on the part of officers posted on borders in controlling smuggling would be taken seriously. The chief minister said he had received complaints that goods meant for farmers were being smuggled to Nepal and Bihar.
Similarly farmers in eastern UP had been facing acute shortage of seeds, insecticides, fertilizers. He said the officers sitting in offices and not attending to the problems of farmers would be punished.
The chief minister said that chief secretary NC Bajpai would review district wise position every day and take action against erring officers.
The principal secretary Irrigation Mohinder Singh said that a special drive had been launched to provide water up to tail end by November 30.
He said around Rs 53 crore would be spent on the project. The chief minister said a special drive should also be launched to nab electricity wire thieves.
Email Author: mhasan@hindustantimes.com
