Rajkot APMC divided into two

The Agriculture Marketing Produce Committee (APMC) Rajkot has been divided into two separate entities, Rajkot-Lodhika Marketing Yard and Paddhari Marketing Yard.

The government issued the notification under the Gujarat Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee Act, 1963 and 1964.

The committee, which was holding the administration control of the Rajkot APMC, was suspended with immediate affect and the government has appointed administrators to look after the daily affairs of both yards and a committee comprising 17 members will be appointed soon, said a government official.

The state has appointed BC Sakhiya as administrator of Rajkot-Lodhika Marketing Yard and KL Shah as administrator of Paddhari Marketing Yard.

In the past the government had tried to divide the Gondal Marketing Yard. But the move was later given up as APMCs across the region moved the court Which issued stay orders.

Rajkot APMC registers Rs 900 crore annual turnover while Gondal APMC's share is Rs 500 crore, said Vitthal Radadiya, ex-chairman, Rajkot APMC.

"This is a tactics by the BJP government which is ruling the state to demoralise the marketing yards across the region as they are controlled by the Congress," claimed Radadiya.

"We are going to challenge this in court, demanding elections in case we fail to stop the division of yards," warned Radadiya.

The government had invited opinions on the division of the yard on June 8, 2006. By July 7 the government received 201 opinions favouring the split and 251 signatures opposing the move.

Congress supporters have termed the government move as an act of vendetta by the BJP which lost control of Rajkot Lodhika Sangh, Rajkot District Co-operative Bank and also the Rajkot District Panchayat.