To ensure timely supply of urea for the State, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday sought intervention of the Union Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar.
Badal, in a letter to the Union Minister, requested him to ensure “timely” supply of balance requirement of urea for the State to ensure that Rabi crops, for the year 2014-15, were not adversely affected.Chief Minister apprised the Minister that as per allocations made by the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Punjab was required to receive 3,35,900 MTs of urea against which the state has received only 2,40,819 MTs, leaving a monthly deficit of 95,081 MTs.
He added, for November 2014, the Ministry allocated 3,36,750 MTs against which the state has received only 87,658 MTs so far.Badal said that in this way, there was a total deficit of 3,44,173 MTs which was required to be covered by November 30, 2014.Expressing concern over the slow movement of fertilsers required by Punjab for Rabi season 2014-15, Badal said that it could impair farmers’ financial health.
He informed the Union Minister that sowing of wheat crop was at its peak now and the farmers of the State were required to be given timely supplies of urea failing which the area under wheat was likely to be adversely affected.Badal said that constrained and delayed availability of urea at this stage would not only affect prospects of Rabi crop, but it might also lead to panic buying by the farmers thereby distorting the market and creating unrest amongst the farmers.
Chief Minister also informed the Minister that the officers of state Agriculture Department have, time and again, met the concerned officers of the Union Ministry, requesting them to hasten supplies of urea in requisite quantities.However, he bemoaned that despite repeated requests, the supplies were still slow and insufficient. “I, therefore, request for your indulgence in the matter to ensure timely supplies of the balance requirement of urea for the state” reiterated Badal.