Raj govt prima facie finds no scam in Horticulture Mission

Jaipur, May 1 (UNI) Rajasthan Government Spokesman and PWD Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore said prima facie there seemed no scam or irregularity in the implementation of Horticulture Mission in the state even as senior IAS Officer R S Gathala reiterated allegation of multi crore scam.

Mr Rathore expressed displeasure over the manner in which Mr Gathala has made revelations in media about alleged scam in implementation of the Horticulture Mission in the state.

The Minister said the government was scrutinising the facts about the statements made by Mr Gathala in media and would take appropriate action in due course.

The officer while talking to a section of print media yesterday, had alleged that during his tenure in Horticulture Department, he had unveiled scam, to the tune of several crore rupees, in payment of subsidy to the farmers for pesticides, seeds, and fountain irrigation facility.

Mr Gathala said he had ordered social audit and revenue inquiry but he was transferred from the post and since then no inquiry had so far been conducted.

Talking to UNI today Mr Gathala reiterated his allegations made in the media yesterday and said that the matter should be probed.

The National Horticulture Mission is being run in 17 districts of the state. Under the mission, the Centre provides 75 per cent subsidy for purchase of pesticides, seed and fountain irrigation system while 25 per cent share is to be contributed by farmers.

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