FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024
VITHALDAS HEGDE
PANJIM: The controversy over the damaged tur dal lying in the godowns of the Civil Supplies Department for more than two years is becoming murkier day by day with the attempt to shirk the responsibility for the lapses at various levels.
While the then Civil Supplies director Siddhivinayak Naik has been suspended based on a hurried preliminary inquiry, the then Civil Supplies Minister Govind Gaude has been surprisingly kept out of the ambit of inquiry and questioning.
Firstly the State Cabinet’s (and not any officers) decision to procure tur dal in bulk to distribute to Goan ration card holders during the Covid-19 crisis was ill-conceived since tur dal is not a part of the staple diet of Goans. It then got the best bidder to dispose of the unused excess tur dal but at the last moment didn’t go with the short-listed bidder. Then as the controversy intensified, the then Civil Supplies director (now posted in the Social Welfare Department) was suspended and sent home holding him responsible for damaging 241 metric tons of tur dal worth crores of rupees.
But is Siddhivinayak Naik the only fall guy?
The government on August 12, 2022, referred the file to the Vigilance Department for an in-depth inquiry and then soon moved a note to place Naik under suspension based on a preliminary inquiry conducted by the then Secretary (Civil Supplies). Why was an “in-depth” inquiry changed to a preliminary inquiry?
Sources close to Naik confirmed that he was upset with his political bosses for treating him unfairly in this matter thereby indirectly pointing fingers at them for making him a scapegoat, especially because of the Cabinet decision to buy tur dal when Goans do not eat tur dal as a part of their diet, was shocking. And an inquiry has to be held as to why the best bidder to dispose of the rotting tur dal was not allowed to do it, allowing crores worth of grains to rot further.
The Tur dal controversy: Look back
The tur dal was purchased as per the prevailing rate of Rs 79 per metric tonnes and was to be distributed to fair price shops across the State at one kg per ration card holder at Rs 83 per kg (including transportation and FPS dealer profit margin) i.e. at a cost to cost basis for a period of two months.
However, the Civil Supplies Department could distribute only 150 MT of tur dal as the fair price shop owners refused to lift the balance quota citing a poor response from the ration cardholders.
As the tur dal remained in the godowns and infected with pests and became unfit for human consumption and not suitable for feed ingredients for cattle and poultry feed, the government in May last year granted administrative approval and financial approval to dispose of the damaged tur dal.
In May 2021, bids were invited to dispose of the stock and the Belgaum-based M/s Lucky Trading Company was the shortlisted bidder for the quoted amount of Rs 5,06,535. But the company was not given the bid due to alleged political interference and the tur dal continued to rot in the godowns. This “political interference” needs to be probed.
Again, in August this year, the department invited fresh bids to dispose of the damaged tur dal and according to information available, the department received four bids which were opened on Tuesday, August 16.
The opposition has condemned the Sawant government for making former director Siddhivinayak Naik a scapegoat for the act of omission and commission of the then Civil Supplies Minister Govind Gaude
The Congress party has also demanded the resignation of Minister Govind Gaude holding him responsible for not allowing to dispose of the damaged tur dal.
