FEROZEPUR, Aug. 11 — More than 5,600 crop residue management machines bought under a government subsidy scheme have gone missing in Ferozepur district, prompting suspensions and disciplinary action against senior agriculture officials.
A report from the Deputy Commissioner to the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, dated July 24, revealed that out of 12,452 subsidised machines purchased for stubble management, only 6,852 are in working condition. The department has been unable to account for the remaining equipment.
Following the findings, Administrative Secretary Dr. Basant Garg suspended Guru Har Sahai Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh and issued a chargesheet to District Agriculture Officer Gurpreet Singh Sidhu. Jaswinder Singh has been shifted to the department’s head office pending further inquiry.
The report also criticised the District Agriculture Officer for failing to curb paddy cultivation in the district. Officials said Sidhu was directed on July 2 to provide details of the subsidised machinery but did not submit the information until after the July 24 deadline.
Director (Agriculture) Jaswant Singh said the department acted swiftly on the Deputy Commissioner’s report but stressed that the matter is far from resolved.
“A detailed investigation is still needed to determine the circumstances and responsibility for the missing machines,” he said.
The subsidised equipment is part of Punjab’s efforts to promote crop residue management and reduce stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution across the region.
