Mild showers on Tuesday were enough to expose the Haryana State Warehousing Corporation’s (HSWC) shortcomings in providing adequate storage for foodgrains.
Of the 2 lakh quintal of wheat lying in the open at Helimandi (Patuadi) and Farrukhnagar mandis, several quintals have spoiled. Agitated farmers are crying foul over the utter negligence with which their hard-earned produce was handled.
Farrukhnagar market committee has lodged a formal complaint with the Pataudi police.
They have requested that an FIR be lodged against HSWC for negligence by not purchasing the wheat, resulting in farmers being forced to either take their grains back or sell them at abysmally low rates.
The HSWC acts as an agent for the purpose of purchase, sale, storage and distribution of agriculture produce as per the Companies Act, 1956.
Around 2 lakh quintals of grains have been lying in the open since the last seven days.
If the HSWC does not purchase the ‘surplus’ grains in a day or two, the produce would be damaged.
“It was told in advance to mandi operators not to dump the surplus wheat grains as the department does not have enough capacity to purchase or store the wheat grains,” said HSWC official Sandeep Sharma, adding that he is ‘forced’ to purchase the surplus grains.
“The grains are in surplus unlike previous years. But we are doing our best to provide adequate storage to the wheat exposed to sun and rain. Hopefully, the matter would be solved by Thursday,” said deputy commissioner PC Meena.
{{/usCountry}}“The grains are in surplus unlike previous years. But we are doing our best to provide adequate storage to the wheat exposed to sun and rain. Hopefully, the matter would be solved by Thursday,” said deputy commissioner PC Meena.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, several dejected farmers took their grains back to their own storages and sold at low rates outside mandis.
“The rain led to rotting of wheat. It’s a loss that has been incurred at government’s premise,” rued Vikram Singh, a farmer.