MLA Bains seeks inquiry into working of Ludhiana Milkfed
Saturday, 12/07/2014
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CHANDIGARH: Independent MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains on Friday accused chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of turning a blind eye to financial and administrative irregularities in the state-owned Milkfed plant of Ludhiana.
“A month before the Lok Sabha elections I informed the CM that financial irregularities amounting to crores had taken place in the plant. But the CM responded with a smile and ignored the seriousness of the issue which was brought to the fore by an audit report,” Bains said at a press conference here.
Seeking an independent probe into the “scam” and also accusing the Milkfed authorities of not taking action against the guilty officials, Bains said he would raise the matter in the assembly session beginning July 15. According to the MLA, a loss of over Rs 1 crore was incurred by the Ludhiana District Cooperative Milk Producers Union after the Milkfed plant authorities procured milk from a Rajasthan-based firm. “Massive irregularities are taking place in production and sale of the milk products of this plant,” he added.
When contacted, principal secretary (to CM) SK Sandhu said: “Following reports in the media, the government ordered an inquiry last week. We are seized of the issue.”
According to the Atam Nagar MLA, two years ago, 86 lakh litres of milk was procured in a year from Rajasthan-based Ganesh Sewa Samiti even as the board of directors had given permission to procure milk only for 15 days to meet the shortage.
“We investigated the matter at our level and have reasons to believe that the Samiti does not have the capacity to provide such a huge quantity of milk. That is why we are seeking an independent probe,” he added.
