Maharashtra CM: Will take on black marketeers

Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured that his government will take strict action against those traders who were involved in black-marketing of tur, taking advantage of the current situation of farmers. “Our government is already investigating it through different channels. We are aware about such traders and hoarders. Once the investigation get completed, we will not spare them,” said Mr Fadnavis on Sunday. He was reacting to media reports about a tur scam that is taking place in the state amid the unexpectedly high yield of tur in the state.

The state government is trying to placate the increasing unrest among farmers over tur procurement in Maharashtra. Farmers have produced almost 20 lakh metric tonne tur this year but the state could procure only 4.8 lakh metric tonne of it. As a result, tur rates are down in various local markets and many farmers have likely have sold it to traders at a rate below the minimum support price (MSP). To redress the situation, the state declared Rs 5,050 per quintal as MSP this year but farmers in need are selling tur at prices of Rs 4,300 per quintal and below in several parts of the state.

The government strongly suspects that many traders bought tur from farmers at below the MSP price and sold it in procurement centres at Rs 5,050 per quintal. The government also suspects a few officers and traders are hand-in-glove in this scam. Mr Fadnavis said the government has primary information about tthe scam and further investigation is on The government is also probing all those that have sold huge quantities of tur at procurement centres. If they fail to convince authorities about their production in proportion to their farm area, the government will use it as proof to take action against them.