Punjab: Two illegal grain warehouses detected

Punjab: Two illegal grain yards were found operating a few metres away from the Gidderbaha Market Committee office and the official grain market, raising questions over the modus operandi of the officials concerned. Around 2,500 sacks filled with wheat were found in these yards. Loading/unloading of produce was underway when the officials reached there, sources said. Two commission agents were fined around Rs 1.7 lakh for circumventing the mandatory market committee fees and causing it financial loss.

Gidderbaha Market Committee Secretary Anil Khunger said, “Show-cause notices have been issued. Though both the agents had applied for permission, the permission was never granted. Despite this, they went ahead with unauthorised operations. A fine of around Rs 1.7 lakh has been collected from them. I urge farmers to take their produce only to authorised mandis.” The violations were detected after a spot inspection following a complaint.