Illegal collection at APMC barrier: Market fee deducted from 180 boxes, receipt given for 92; Gardener made allegations of corruption, committee set up investigation

A case of illegal recovery has come to light at the barrier of Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Shimla-Kinnaur. Former mayor of Municipal Corporation (MC) Shimla, Sanjay Chauhan has made allegations of corruption at APMC’s Neripul barrier. He has complained in this regard to the MD of the State Marketing Board.

In the complaint, Sanjay Chauhan said that extortion is being made from the gardeners at the barrier. On September 11, he sent 180 boxes of apples in two pickup vehicles to Parwanoo market. Both the vehicles were sent from Chaila to Parwanoo via Yashwantnagar. Both the vehicles were stopped for questioning at the barrier of APMC in Neripul.

Fee deducted for 180 boxes, receipt given for 92 boxes

The pickup driver showed the gardener’s challan, bill and garden card to the employee present at the barrier, because there is no provision in the APMC Act to collect market fees from the gardener.

According to the complainant, despite showing the documents, the employees present at the barrier have deducted market fee of Rs 540 at the rate of Rs 3 for the 180 boxes of apples loaded in both the vehicles, whereas the receipt was given for only Rs 276 for 92 boxes. Receipt for 88 boxes was not given. He said that in this way illegal recovery is being done at the barrier.

Earlier also there were allegations of illegal recovery on the barrier

Sanjay Chauhan said that this is not the first case of illegal recovery. Along with other gardeners also, such illegal recovery is being done at the barrier of APMC Shimla-Kinnaur. There is a provision in the APMC Act to collect market fees only from commission agents, consignees and forwarding agents.

Market fees cannot be charged from gardeners. Despite this, charging market fees is raising many questions. APMC has been accused of such corruption in the past also. Sanjay Chauhan has demanded strict legal action against the employee present at the barrier.

The same employees have been at the barrier for 8-10 years

If sources are to be believed, APMC Shimla-Kinnaur has not changed the employees at the three barriers for eight-10 years. Senior assistants, auction recorders, whose work is in the markets and offices, have been deliberately deployed at the barrier, whereas MTW, data operators and other staff can go for this work. This deepens the doubt.

An inquiry has been set up on the complaint, action will be taken: Secretary

APMC Shimla-Kinnaur Secretary Devraj Kashyap said that he has instituted an investigation on the complaint. If the allegations are found true in the investigation, strict action will be taken. The employees who have been posted at the barrier for years will be replaced.