Green tractors: ‘Irregularities’ report called misleading’

Agriculture Department calls allegations of irregularities to be a misrepresentation of facts.

LAHORE: A spokesperson of the Agriculture Department has said that the allegations of irregularities in the Green Tractor Scheme 2008-09 were being investigated by the department, “at this stage it appears to be a misrepresentation of facts”.

A statement issued on Thursday, stated that an audit report, commissioned by the Auditor General, had found some irregularities. However, according to the departmental spokesperson, “some procedural lapses had been exaggerated in the audit report and in certain cases the audit team did not even properly examine the records”.  The Agriculture Department has meanwhile constituted a committee to look into the lapses.

According to the statement issued, more than 218,000 applications were received for the Green Tractor Scheme, which were scrutinised by committees headed by respective Deputy District Officers (Revenue) of all tehsils. The balloting was carried out by a third party.

Some unsuccessful applicants filed objections, which were also disposed of after personal hearings.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2010.