Upalokayukta Orders Crackdown on Illegal Middleman Fees at Hosapete APMC Market

Eliminating Illegal Tolls on Agricultural Trade

During a surprise oversight visit to the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) in Hosapete on Saturday, Karnataka Upalokayukta Justice B. Veerappa issued a stern directive to end the exploitation of farmers by intermediaries. The inspection followed specific complaints from growers who reported that officials and middlemen were illegally siphoning off a portion of their earnings through unauthorized commission fees.

Justice Veerappa ordered APMC authorities to immediately install visible signboards throughout the premises stating that collecting commissions from farmers is against the law. He explicitly told the agricultural community to refuse any payments to these intermediaries, noting that such practices undermine the financial integrity of the market system.

Infrastructure Failure and Weighing Integrity

The Upalokayukta's investigation extended to technical accuracy and basic human needs. To prevent fraudulent weight reporting, he personally stood on the market’s weighing equipment to verify precision and scrutinized calibration certifications to confirm compliance with government standards. Beyond the trade scales, the Justice highlighted significant operational failures:

• Water Access: Expressing sharp disapproval of the neglected drinking water facilities, he ordered officials to repair the systems for both farmers and the general public.
• Overnight Shelters: Recognizing that many farmers travel long distances and arrive at night, he instructed municipal leaders to fast-track construction permits for an on-site rest shelter.
• Urban Services: The inspection expanded to the city bus stand and the Vijayanagara College route, where he addressed complaints from students regarding inconsistent transport services.

Retail Regulation and Administrative Accountability

In addition to agricultural oversight, Justice Veerappa inspected commercial outlets at the city terminal. He issued warnings to traders regarding the sale of expired food and the illegal practice of pricing goods above the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). High-ranking officials, including Lokayukta Deputy Registrar Aravind, Sub-divisional Officer Vivekananda, and Municipal Commissioner Eragudi Shivakumar, were present to receive these directives. The Upalokayukta made it clear that bureaucratic negligence regarding these public services would not be tolerated.

Source: The Hindu — Home