The reason cited by the Minister is: “Price rise has helped farmers get better prices to their produce. We (the Government) will not take any step to control the market as long as farmers are getting better price.” He, however, said steps will be taken to set right lapses, if any, at the Horticultural Producers’ Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) outlets and ensure that the customers are not cheated.
The Horticulture department will shortly initiate the process of transferring officials through the counselling system, as decided by the government at the recent Manthana-2. The officials will be transferred based on their seniority, besides family and health reasons.
The exercise will be completed in a month’s time, Umesh Katti stated.
As part of its measures to cut down wasteful expenditure, the Horticulture department has decided to freeze 1,776 vacancies in the Department.
The department has a sanctioned strength of 5,370 staff and currently it has 3,594, the Minister said. Umesh Katti said four officials of the department in Bellary district have been suspended on the charge of misappropriation of Rs 2.5 crore. The officials had drawn subsidy money under the National Horticulture Mission and the Rashtreeya Krishi Vikas Project in the fictitious names of farmers.
