7 officials suspended

Guntur: The district administration has placed seven officials under suspension, including four MPEOs, two AEOs and one VRO, who allegedly committed irregularities in the purchase of chillies during the last season. Based on the inquiry report, District Collector Kona Sasidhr issued orders placing them under suspension.

According to sources, the government announced a bonus of Rs1,500 per quintal to the farmers growing chillies during the last season, due to a fall in chilli prices to Rs 4,000 per quintal from Rs 800 per quintal, to extend a helping hand to farmers, the government announced bonus to the farmers.

The farmers, who sell up to Rs 8,000 per quintal, are eligible to get bonus of Rs1,500 per quintal. Taking this advantage, the officials in Eepur mandal committed irregularities.

They transferred Rs1,500 bonus on each quintal to the farmers account. Later, they collected the bonus amount from them. The irregularities were detected when revenue divisional officer G Ravindra conducted an enquiry.

Based on the report, District Collector Kona Sashidhar suspended the officials and issued orders to this effect. The Collector also recovered the misappropriated amount from the employees under the Revenue Recovery Act.