(a) whether the National Horticulture Board (NHB) has provided loan and financial
assistance to the private limited companies without bank guarantee in complicity with
board officials thereby causing a financial loss of Rs.90.60 lakh;
(b) if so, whether the Government propose to take any action against the errant
officials;
(c) if so, the time by which it is likely to be done; and
(d) if not, the reasons therefor?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI SBPBK SATYANARAYANA RAO)
(a) to (d): The National Horticulture Board (NHB) set up for promoting integrated
development of horticulture in the country has been taking up programmes on various
aspects from production to post harvest management of horticulture produce. The
Board has taken up various schemes during the 8th Plan for overall development of
horticulture by providing loan/soft loan/subsidy to co-operative societies/farmers
associations/NGOs/corporate & private sector/State Agro Industry Corporations etc.
Two cases of fake/misplaced bank guarantees have come to the notice. In one case,
the Board has provided loan of Rs.9,37,500/- and subsidy of Rs.3,12,500/- for
procurement and installation of 50 juice vending machines under its Scheme, namely,
`Alternate Structure for Marketing of Fruit Juices/Fruit based Beverages Scheme.’ In
the other case the Board had provided soft loan of Rs.49.68 lakh for setting up post
harvest infrastructure facilities like cold storage, pre-cooling unit, refrigerated van and
retail outlets with subsidy of Rs.5.00 lakh for the procurement of plastic crates under the
Scheme, namely, `Integrated Project on Management of Post Harvest Infrastructure of
Horticulture Crops.’ The Board has lodged First Information Report (FIR) under various
Sections of Indian Penal Code with the Police Authorities for investigation in the above
cases. After the Police investigation, criminal cases have been filed in the respective
courts in both the cases. The Board has also filed civil suits in both the cases for
recovery of the NHB`s funds alongwith interest. The matter is being pursued by the
Board in the respective courts and the same is sub-judice.