Chandigarh,October 15:
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Punjab Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that Bogus Milling Menace won’t be tolerated in the State at any cost.
Disclosing this Mr. Ashu informed that raids ware conducted today in the four rice mills falling in District Mansa, Bathinda and Moga have unearthed 11927 Bags of paddy and 6276 bags of rice illegally piled up were unearthed by the departmental teams on Thursday. He said that the departmental teams have conducted a raid at Bappiana Rice Mill in Mansa where in 4000 bags of Rice (50 kg each), 11927 bags of paddy found more than government storage record in Ganpati Rice Mill Goniana (Bathinda). The owner did not present requisite documents to validate the sources of the procured paddy and rice.
Similarly departmental teams have conducted raid at closed store of Narian Rice Mill Mansa on a tip off that rice of other states hoarded here but the documentary evidences showed that this space was rented out by mill owner to its own family members in papers for rice trading. Search team asked store owner to open the store but he refused then team sealed this store.
The Cabinet Minister said that a raid was also conducted at shiv Shakti Rice Mill, Mansa where 616 bags (60 Kg each) and 1060 bags (30Kg each) rice found, likewise 600 bags (50kg each) found in Mahadev rice Mill, Gonian. Mill owner produced a document of rice purchase from Bansal trading company, after that documents of Bansal trading company also verified to vindicate these claims.
Mr. Ashu said that state government will leave no stone unturned to curtail this illegal practice. He ordered to department to keep a strict vigil over the mill premises where huge stacks of paddy/rice hoarded.
