The Odisha Bio-Fertilisers Manufacturers’ Association has alleged that the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water (PRDR) Department is violating the Central Government rules and promoting units from outside the State to participate in Central Government sponsored and monitored MGNREGA scheme with vested interests.
The association in a Press conference here recently said as per the Fertiliser (Control) Amendment Order, 2016, Government of India has already amended vide Gazette notification no S0 3054(E) dated September, 23, 2016 that bio-fertilisers and organic fertilisers are excluded from obtaining production licenses and it has come into force on the date of its publication in the official gazette.
But in violation of the said gazette notification, the State Panchayati Raj and Drinking Secretary has notified in letter no.-17-NREG-11-U08,6219/PR dated 12/04/2017 that the local production units are bound to possess three years Production license in order to be eligible to participate in the MREGA scheme tenders, the association alleged.
Asper the Odisha State Pollution Control Board(OSPCB) notification organic and bio fertiliser units are covered under white category of industries that do not require any pollution clearance, the Secretary again notified in the same order that the local production units must possess the pollution clearance to be eligible for participation in the tendering procedure. While EPM rate contract is valid for only one year, the same notification has asked for two years' rate contract, the association alleged.
The association questioned the preferential treatment being meted out to the outside the State manufacturers by allowing them to participate in MGNREGS tendering process even if they possess a fresh marketing license where as local manufacturers who create employment to the tune of thousands of man days and pay taxes are not allowed to participate in the same. Besides, the association alleged that one out of State firm has bagged tenders amounting to crores of rupees but its local distributor is supplying inferior quality materials. An association functionary Gouri Shankar Mishra sought the Chief Minister’s intervention and a high-level probe to large-scale irregularities and to provide justice to the local manufacturers.
