Raipur: Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Dr Charandas Mahant has constituted a five-member committee of legislators, including two from the opposition, to probe into the state seed and agriculture development corporation releasing payment to a firm blacklisted earlier for allegedly supplying substandard quality hybrid seeds. The assembly panel comprises senior legislators Dhanendra Sahu, Lakheshwar Baghel, Mrs Sangeeta Sinha, Narayan Chandel and Sourabh Singh.
The committee has been asked to submit its report by the last day of the next assembly session. During the recent budget session, the speaker had announced the setting up of a House panel after the leader of the opposition Dharamlal Kaushik raised the issue and Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey admitted that the company concerned has been debarred again after it has come to notice that payment has been released to the blacklisted firm.
Chhattisgarh state seed and agriculture development corporation had placed orders with M/s Trimurti Plant Science to procure hybrid Maize and vegetable seeds. After a probe, the firm was blacklisted and an order was passed to stop payment to this firm. Despite this action, a payment to the tune of Rs 2.61 crore was released and later the firm was again blacklisted.
The opposition BJP had raised the issue in the Vidhan Sabha during the last budget session demanding a probe into the matter. Subsequently, it was decided to set up a house committee to inquire into it.