Agriculture minister suspends six officers

LUCKNOW: Agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi on Saturday suspended six officers, including two deputy directors , on different charges, including laxity and irregularities.

Shahi made the announcement at a press conference here.

Those suspended include deputy director, Meerut, Surendra Chaudhary and deputy director, Kasganj-Etah, Vijay Shankar, besides, four division-incharges.

“There are serious charges of irregularities and laxity against all the officers suspended,” Shahi said.

The action comes only a few days after the minister suspended two district agricultures officers for the same charges. They are district agriculture officer, Fatehpur, Amar Singh and district agriculture officer, Lakhimpur, Santosh Kumar Verma.

The minister said, the budget presented on Friday would help farmers enhance their income. He said the ban on electricity connections for private tube wells had been lifted in 214

THE ACTION COMES ONLY A FEW DAYS AFTER THE MINISTER SUSPENDED TWO DISTRICT AGRICULTURES OFFICERS FOR THE SAME CHARGES.

development blocks. This, he claimed, would increase irrigation facilities.

Replying to a question, he said loans pending against 35 lakh farmers had been paid to banks.

He said the last date for debt redemption had been increased to March 10 and farmers, who had been left out, could still avail themselves of the scheme.