Belagavi APMC in Poor Condition: Lokayukta Justice B. Veerappa Pulls Up Officials During Inspection

Belagavi, Oct 29: Karnataka Upa Lokayukta Justice B. Veerappa on Thursday visited the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Belagavi and inspected various facilities and activities at the market.

During the inspection, he checked the weighing machines used by vegetable traders and sought information on alleged irregularities in weighing practices and excessive commissions charged by middlemen.

Justice Veerappa expressed serious displeasure after finding that wholesale vegetable traders in the market were not issuing receipts for sales transactions.

He also noticed that the purified drinking water facility was not functioning and that the market's restaurant lacked basic cleanliness. Taking strong exception to the poor hygiene, he reprimanded the officials, remarking that the restaurant had turned into a garbage dump.

He interacted with farmers and porters (hamals) to gather information about the lack of resting facilities and parking arrangements at the market.

Following complaints that porters were not being provided with basic facilities, he directed the Labour Department officials to collect details of workers employed in all shops within two days and ensure that they receive the government benefits and facilities they are entitled to.

The Upa Lokayukta was also shocked by the poor condition of the market's toilet facilities. He subsequently visited the Raitha Bhavan (Farmers' Building) and reviewed the arrangements there.

Deputy Registrar Aravind, Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Prasanna Desai, District Legal Services Authority Member Secretary K.N. Shivakumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Vijayakumar Honakeri, Assistant Commissioner Shravan Nayak, City Corporation Commissioner Karthik M., and officials from various departments were present during the visit.

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