The State Government has decided to crack down on the diversion of subsidised fertilisers for industrial purposes and black marketing. Agriculture Department Additional Secretary Purushottam Sahoo directed officials of the Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production to take the necessary steps in this regard under the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985 for preventing hoarding, black marketing, breach of MRP and diversion of subsidised urea for industrial and non-agricultural purposes.
The decision was taken following a direction from Union Chemical and Fertiliser Secretary JK Mohapatra to curb the diversion of fertilisers and prevent their black marketing and smuggling, which are otherwise meant for distribution among farmers.