The information was shared by the Himachal Pradesh agriculture minister Chander Kumar on Wednesday in the assembly during question hour
In the last three years, 379 orchardists in Himachal were defrauded of ₹8.05 crore by the commission agents and loaders who fled without making payment of their produce.
The information was shared by the agriculture minister Chander Kumar on Wednesday in the assembly during question hour. He was responding to a question from Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore.
Out of the ₹8.05 crore, payment of ₹1.93 crore was made to the orchardists, while ₹6.12 crore is still pending, he further informed. Cases of such frauds have been filed with the agricultural produce marketing committee (APMC).
The highest number of complaints–191–have been received from Solan district with orchardists not receiving ₹3.37 crore by transporters, said Kumar, further adding that 12 complaints have been resolved in Solan so far, and horticulturists have been paid ₹98.34 lakh. Action is underway in other cases. Challans have been filed in court against 16 defaulting commission agents and loaders.