Ganderbal, Apr 6: The farmers of this district today charged the Horticulture Department with not releasing payment to them on account of construction of shuds under Rashtriya Krishi
Vikas Yojna (RKVY), a centrally sponsored scheme.
 The farmers said on the instructions of the Department “we constructed shuds as per the design given out by the department for storage of fruit.”
 The farmers said they spent at least Rs 3 lakh on each shud though they were promised only Rs 1.5 lakh/shud reimbursement. “We constructed 8 shuds in the area,” they said.
 According to the farmers the department had promised them Rs.1.50 lakh per shud. “We were assured that the payment will be disbursed within two weeks after the shud is constructed. Even we are assured that funds won’t be a problem,” they said.
 The farmers said the Department showed much urgency prior to the construction of the shuds and asked “us to complete the shuds as early as possible.”
 The farmers said though they completed the shuds months ago, yet the Department did not release their payment. 
 Ghulam Rasool, a farmer, said: “We have raised loans from nears and dears to construct the shuds with a hope that the department will release the payment and we will repay the loans. Months have elapsed yet the payment has not been released.”
 When contacted V K Gupta, Chief Horticulture Officer, Ganderbal, confirmed to Greater Kashmir that “seven cases under RKVY from the district are pending payment.”
 However he assured that the payment will be made within two weeks. “We are completing the formalities and payments will be made within two weeks.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST