9 centres to purchase ragi, paddy to be opened on Jan 1

Deputy Commissioner S P Shadakshariswamy said nine centres will be opened in the district to purchase ragi and paddy at subsidesed rates under the Union and the State governments schemes from January 1.

Addressing media persons on Tuesday, he said paddy and ragi will be purchased at the subsidised rates Rs 2,100 and Rs 1,510 per quintal respectively. Except Jaya and Jyothi varieties, all other varieties of paddy will be available at the subsidised centres, he added.

Farmers can visit the purchase centres, obtain the applications and fill the details regarding their land registrations. The cereals should be transported to the purchase centres before March 31, he said.

The DC said the purchase centres for ragi and paddy will be set up at State Godown Corporation in Chikkamagaluru taluk while those for ragi will function at Godown 1 and 2 on APMC premises in Kadur and also on Panchanahalli APMC premises.

The purchase centres will also be opened on APMC premises in Tarikere for both ragi and paddy. The purchasing centres for paddy will be opened at Mudigere APMC, Koppa Taluk Panchayat Godown, VSSN godown in N R Pura and Sringeri Taluk Panchayat godown, the DC said.

He said that the officials from the Agriculture Department will examine the quality of paddy and ragi. There will also be an external team for inspection, from NCML, Hyderabad. The moisture content in the cereals will be tested through machines to ensure quality. The weighing scales will be tested and certified by Weights and Measurement Department officials.  Hence, the farmers should bring the cereals of good quality. The amount will be deposited to the bank accounts of farmers, after the purchase of cereals.

Paperless office
Shadakshariswamy said that the DC office and the Assistant Commissioner’s Offices will go paperless in near future.

The preparations in this direction are being done and the announcement of the date will be made in the last week of January.

He added that the project has got a good encouragement as the  district has stood in the first place in the state, regarding the awareness on Digital India.

Golf Club joint survey
The higher appealing authority has upheld the DC’s order in connection with the forest land handed over to the Golf Club.

The Forest Department has been directed to take take over the land. Also, the Tahshildar has been told to cooperate with in this regard.

A joint survey of the land belonging to Golf Club will be done based on the original map of Karadihallikaval village. If the accurate measurement of land is not available, the survey of entire Karadihallikaval village will be done. Serious action will be taken against the club, if it is found that it has encroached the government or forest land.

Action recommended
He said that complaints have been received on the illegal issue of cultivation chits by the retired Tahshildar Narayan Rao in Sringeri.

A chargesheet has been filed against Rao for violation of 94 (C) Act. Also, notices have been served to the employees confirmed. Investigations are on the way, he said.

Shadaskshariswamy said that on the receipt of complaints regarding the low quality of fertilizers in Koppa TPMC, the sale of fertilizers have been banned till the arrival of laboratory reports.