Rewa Collector Fines Agency Rs 5,000 Over Mess at Karahiya Mandi

Surprise inspection reveals poor upkeep

In a move that caught both officials and private contractors off guard, Rewa Collector Narend Kumar Suryavanshi carried out a sudden inspection at the Karahiya Mandi wheat procurement centre on Friday. The visit, which lasted well over an hour, was primarily aimed at reviewing the purchase arrangements for the ongoing wheat season. But it was the state of the premises that quickly became the focus.

The collector arrived at the centre by late morning, without any prior notice. He walked through the sprawling mandi grounds, speaking directly with farmers who had been waiting since early hours to get their produce weighed and registered. While many acknowledged that basic facilities like drinking water and seating were available, a few did not hold back.

`Trouble with weighing, waste piling up`

Local farmers and a few commission agents pointed out intermittent issues with the digital weighing scales. Others complained about uncleared waste lying in corners of the complex, which had started attracting stray animals. "The weighing is mostly fine, but sometimes the machine stalls. Also, the garbage near the eastern shed has been there for three days," said Ramkumar Kol, a farmer from a nearby village.

The collector listened without interrupting. He then directed his staff to immediately verify the calibration of all active weighing machines. On the issue of sanitation, his response was swift and on the spot.

Agency penalised for filthy premises

Sources familiar with the matter said the collector was visibly unhappy with the general lack of cleanliness around the procurement sheds. Without wasting time, he ordered a fine of Rs 5,000 on the private cleaning agency responsible for the mandi's upkeep. Officials confirmed the penalty was levied for "failure to maintain basic hygiene standards" at a critical public procurement centre.

The cleaning agency’s on-site supervisor was summoned and given strict instructions to improve the sweeping and waste disposal schedule. "Regular monitoring will be done. This cannot happen again," the collector told the staff present. The district administration later said the fine amount would be recovered from the agency’s pending bills.

Wheat quality checked, transport expedited

Moving past the cleanliness issue, the collector turned his attention to the grain itself. He had a random sack of wheat brought forward and weighed in his presence. He also examined a sample for moisture content and visible damage. Initial reports indicated the quality was within acceptable limits, which came as a relief to procurement officials standing nearby.

However, he made it clear that godowns should not be allowed to fill up unnecessarily. He ordered officials to speed up the transport of already-purchased wheat to bulk storage points. The logic was straightforward – less stockpile in the mandi means less congestion and quicker turnaround for farmers.

No room for negligence, says collector

By the time the inspection wrapped up, the message was loud and clear. Mandi Samiti and Food Department officials, who had trailed the collector through the grounds, were told to remain present at the centre during peak hours. The collector added that any laxity in the procurement process would not be tolerated.

For the farmers who had gathered around, the immediate takeaway was mixed. The spot fine and the collector’s direct intervention were welcome signs. But many said the real test would be whether the cleanliness and weighing issues stayed fixed after the VIP visit ended. The administration has promised follow-up checks over the next week.