4 officials suspended for supplying defective pumps

Bhopal, Feb 21 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh government today told state Legislative Assembly that four officials had already been suspended following complaints about supply of defective and sub-standard irrigation pumps to tribals in Betul and Dhar districts under the integrated tribal development project.

Replying to a call attention notice moved by Mr Sajjan Singh Verma (Cong), Tribal Welfare Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah said senior officers were inquiring into the complaints. Assistance worth Rs 20,000 was being given to the beneficiaries on the Centre's guidelines and no attempt would be made to shield guilty officials, he said.

Mr Shah said BJP MLA Sajjan Singh Uike had informed Betul Collector about the supply of sub-standard pumps to the tribal beneficiaries. Separate teams were inquiring into the complaints received from Betul and Dhar districts.

Mr Verma (Cong), who moved the notice, said many landless farmers were shown as having supplied seeds and fertiliser. Many beneficiaries had not been provided pair of bullocks, he added.

Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi, who intervened, had taken exception to the practice of government agencies supplying pumps or bullocks and carrying out digging of wells by machines and sought that the tribals should be given a free hand in deriving benefits of the integrated development projects.

The House plunged into an uproar with the ruling party members protesting Ms Devi's charge that there was rampant corruption in purchases by government agencies. ''Digging of wells was done through machines, while goats were purchased from Rajasthan only,'' she said.

Mr Verma said a cover-up operation was on by entrusting the inquiry to the guilty officials.

UNI