7 yrs on, Muktsar man profiting on Milkfed land; Not auctioned since 2007, the 10-acre plot is being cultivated every year

7 yrs on, Muktsar man profiting on Milkfed land

Not auctioned since 2007, the 10-acre plot is being cultivated every year

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Kolianwali (Lambi), April 26

A classic example of a government agency allegedly extending undue benefit to an influential person has come to light in Lambi. Milkfed had not leased out its prime agricultural land (10.5 acre) at Kolianwali village on the Malout-Sitto Gunno road to anyone since the SAD-BJP government came to power in 2007.

Though the land had not been leased out for the past eight years, a visit to the site today revealed that wheat crop has been freshly harvested from there. The land is cultivated every year, villagers maintain.

The Milkfed authorities had to give it on lease for a year by holding an open auction at the site today. However, the auction was postponed citing some administrative reasons and without announcing any fresh date for it.

A team of Milkfed officials, led by Milkfed’s Badal area in charge Jagjit Singh, reached the spot only to return after putting up two notices that the auction had been postponed.

When questioned on reason behind postponing the auction and its fresh date, Jagjit Singh said, “The decision has been taken by the higher officials at Chandigarh and I can’t make any comment on it. We have come here following directions from our seniors.”

Some villagers who had reached focal point to sell their wheat, said, “It was no less than a surprise for us when we came to know about Milkfed deciding to give its land on lease. Implementing any such decision will be really tough for any official. Over the past few years, there had never been any talk of giving this land on lease, although it was being cultivated every season.”

Rupinder Singh Sekhon, General Manager, Milkfed, Bathinda, said, “The land measuring about 10.5 acres, four kanals and four marlas was purchased by Milkfed to set up a cattle feed plant around 10-12 years ago. The plan, however, did not materialise and the land is lying vacant since then. The last time it was given on lease was in 2006-07.”

Manjit Singh Brar, Managing Director (MD), Milkfed, said, “The land was scheduled to be leased out today, but at the last moment our General Manager, Bathinda, who had to conduct the process, got entangled in some family problem, so the auction was postponed.”

Asked about the presence of wheat residue on the land that had not been given on lease for the past many years, Brar said, “The matter will be thoroughly probed. If someone has cultivated the land in the past without making any payment to Milkfed, he or she will be penalised. I have assumed the charge just a fortnight ago.”

Courtesy: The Tribune