Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 13: Relating to the incident in which pesticides and fertilizers meant for distribution among the farmers were dumped into a well at Kadri Park in the city, and after investigating their role in procuring substandard organic products and distributing them, district deputy director of horticulture, H S Hema, senior assistant director, Mangala, and assistant horticulture officer, Channarase Gowda, have been suspended from service.

The officials of the department of horticulture had destroyed organic pesticides bought at a cost of lacs of rupees, by dumping them into a well in Kadri Park. After this incident got wide publicity, the driver of the van in which the pesticides were brought, had committed suicide. During the consequent raid conducted by the district deputy commissioner on the district godown of the department later, he had recovered huge quantity of items that the officials had failed to distribute to the concerned. Some of the items had expired, while the quality of items like neem oilcakes had been found to be of substandard quality.

The purchase and distribution records maintained by the department also suffered from various anomalies, which the officials failed to explain. Medicines worth Rs 2.5 lac could not be accounted for. The department had ordered for a departmental inquiry by a team headed by additional director of horticulture, Dr S V Hittalamani.

There were lot of complaints about the poor quality of neem oilcakes and wasteful organic products bought by the department, and their improper distribution. Complaints have also been made to the state Lokayukta relating to irregularities in the department’s functioning.