Khammam Collector Karnan warns of PD Act on traders selling spurious seeds

Khammam: District Collector RV Karnan has directed the officials to book traders under Preventive Detention (PD) Act, if found selling fake seeds in the market in Khammam district. The Collector along with Commissioner of Police (CP) Tafseer Iqbal discussed the measures to be taken to check distribution and sale of spurious seeds with the officials of various departments at a District Task Force Committee meeting here on Thursday.

Collector Karnan told the officials of revenue, agriculture and police departments to work in coordination with each other and be alert in order to contain those, who sell fake seeds. Reminding Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's orders during a recent conference with District Collectors to control sale of fake seeds, the Collector told the Task Force teams to be alert during the next one month.

Tahsildars, police inspectors and mandal agriculture officers have to carry regular inspections at shops that sell seeds and fertilisers. Steps have to be taken to ensure that seeds dealers maintain quality of products they were selling. Also, he told them to verity the validity of traders' license.

Price list and stock details, waybills and delivery challans have to be examined. Tight vigilance has to be maintained at borders and vehicle inspections has to be conducted during night hours to prevent transporting of fake seeds into the district from other States, Karnan noted.

He wanted special focus to be laid on agency areas like Enkoor, Kamepalli and Singareni mandals. Informing that license was issued to 180 chilli nurseries this year, he told the officials to shut down nurseries running without license. He gave a power point presentation on the tasks of the Task Force Committee.

CP Iqbal stressed on the need of coordination among Task Force teams. So far Rs 1 crore worth fake and spurious seeds were seized in the district. There were 327 shops selling cotton seeds and the license of every shop has to be checked, he said.

Additional DCP D Muralidhar, Additional Collector N Madhusudhan Rao, District Agriculture Office Jhansi Lakshmi Kumari, District Revenue Officer Sirisha, Horticulture Officer Anasuya and others were present.