Authorities in Barwani district have taken strict action against a local fertiliser dealer for allegedly exploiting farmers by selling urea at exorbitant rates. An FIR (First Information Report) has been officially registered following a surprise inspection that uncovered significant violations of government pricing rules.
Inspection Uncovers Blatant Overpricing
A joint team comprising officials from the revenue and agriculture departments conducted a raid at the Kanha Krishi Seva Kendra in Pati. During their inspection, they made a shocking discovery. The dealer was selling a bag of urea fertiliser for Rs 550. This price stands in direct violation of the government-mandated rate, which is fixed at Rs 266.50 per bag. This means farmers were being forced to pay more than double the official price for this essential agricultural input.
How the Violation Came to Light
The illegal practice was exposed through a specific incident involving farmer Butsingh, a resident of Chaklya village. Officials found that the dealer had sold urea to Butsingh without using the mandatory Point of Sale (POS) machine. The use of this machine is compulsory to ensure transparency and to record sales at the correct subsidised price. The bypassing of this system raised immediate red flags and triggered the detailed inspection.
Acting swiftly on the spot, the government team prepared an official panchnama (spot verification report) and recorded the statement of the affected farmer. A further check of the firm's premises revealed stocks of fertilisers from various companies, adding more context to the investigation.
Legal Repercussions and Broader Impact
The filing of the FIR marks a serious step in holding the dealer accountable for price exploitation. Such actions not only burden farmers with unfair costs but also undermine government subsidies designed to support agriculture. This case highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring that vital farming supplies reach the end-user at the correct, subsidised rates. It serves as a warning to other dealers across the region that violations of pricing norms will lead to strict legal consequences.
For the farming community in Barwani and beyond, this enforcement action is a crucial move to protect their interests and ensure the effectiveness of agricultural support policies.
