Allocation of Fertilizers

Press Information Bureau Release Dec 2, 2010 The season-wise demand of major fertilizers like Urea, DAP, MOP & NPK is assessed by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) in consultation with the officers of State Agriculture Department, fertilizer suppliers and Fertiliser Association of India (FAI). The Chief Secretaries in the States and Border Guarding Authorities like Border Security Force (BSF), Coast Guards and Custom authorities etc. have been alerted by Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Finance to keep strict vigil on such activities which may lead to illegal exports/smuggling of fertilizers and initiate stringent action against the persons involved in such malpractices under the provision of FCO, 1985. The provision contained in Para 3 of Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973 – Prohibits the illegal export/smuggling of fertilizers. Instances of illegal export of Muriate of Potash (MOP) and Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) packed in the brand common Salt and Soda Ash from Gujarat has come to notice. The consignment has been seized by Custom Authorities at Kandla Port. Similarly, Government of Maharashtra has also intimated that the fertilizer is being exported illegally in the name of Soda Ash, Salt etc. This complaint was on the basis of seizure of about 4000 bags of 50 kg. (each having imprinted as Soda Ash but containing DAP as per testing report) by the District Quality Control Inspector while inspecting the Godown of M/s Transworld Furtichem Pvt. Ltd., Roha, District, Raigad on 27th January, 2010. In this regard necessary legal proceedings are being initiated by the concerned authorities. Similarly in Karnataka, Bangalore customs have seized 1156 MT of MOP from six traders and have initiated legal proceedings. The respective State Government’s will be taking appropriate action against offenders as per provisions of law. Recently also, Department of Fertilizers has written to Chief Secretaries of the States having international boundaries for initiating action against person/persons involved in smuggling of fertilizers with the help of Central/State enforcement agencies. This information was given by the Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Srikant Kumar Jena in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. ..... PKM/SB http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=67989