- Central Team to Inspect Telangana Oil Fed
- Union Minister Shivraj Singh Interferes
Article Today, Hyderabad: The Union government has expressed serious displeasure over the alleged irregularities in Oil Fed operations. Reports of poor-quality saplings and malpractices in nurseries have drawn the attention of the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Acting swiftly, the Minister has directed officials to probe the matter thoroughly.
Central Team to Inspect Telangana
Following his orders, a team of scientists and officials from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (IIOPR) is set to visit Telangana. The inspection will likely take place on any two days between June 26 and 28, covering Khammam and Bhadradri Kothagudem districts. Senior Oil Fed officials confirmed the proposed visit.
Checklist Sent, Deadline Issued
Ahead of the visit, the central agencies have asked Oil Fed to submit a detailed report. A checklist of critical questions has been sent, and authorities have made it clear that the responses must reach them by Monday evening. The situation has left Oil Fed officials in deep worry, as they now face parallel scrutiny.
ST Commission Also Probing
Adding to Oil Fed’s troubles, the National Scheduled Tribes (ST) Commission is conducting its own inquiry on Monday in Hyderabad. The commission is acting on a complaint from a tribal farmer regarding substandard oil palm saplings. Notices have already been served to the Principal Secretary of the Agriculture Department, the Director of Horticulture, and Oil Fed Managing Directors. It remains unclear whether they will attend the hearing.
Farmer Leaders to Present Report
Farmer leaders, including Sriramulu, the complainant, and Uma Maheshwar Reddy, President of the Aswaraopet Oil Palm Growers Association, will participate in the hearing. They are preparing to submit a comprehensive report to the Commission, detailing the irregularities. Sources say government officials may attempt to downplay the issue through carefully prepared reports.
Key Questions from Central Agencies
The central team has raised specific concerns. They questioned the age of the saplings distributed to farmers and demanded full records. Details of the supplier company, the variety of Tenera hybrid saplings, and their performance in terms of fruit bunch yield and plant height must be provided.
The agencies also asked whether the nurseries followed IIOPR guidelines and whether proper quarantine measures were taken. They sought certificates and records of culling during the nursery stage. The team demanded clarity on whether the saplings were uniform and healthy at the time of distribution.
Officials Under Pressure
Oil Fed officials are now scrambling to prepare their reports. A senior official expressed frustration, alleging that some are manipulating data to cover up the irregularities. “It is painful to see such false reporting,” the official remarked. As both the ST Commission and the central inspection team intensify their inquiries, Oil Fed finds itself under mounting pressure. The coming days may prove crucial in uncovering the depth of the scandal.
