Short supply of Fertilisers, K'taka CM writes to PM

Bangalore, Sept 12 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today appealed to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to alter the present system of supply of fertilizers from the Centre to the States.

Stating that the present position of fertilizer supply was far from satisfactory, Mr Yeddyurappa, in a letter to the Prime Minister, copy of which was released to the press here, said that during the khariff, till August the State has received only 46 per cent of Complexes and 32 per cent of Urea.

"You are aware that Karnataka State has been experiencing severe shortage of fertilizers for the last one year. The situation was rather precarious during Kharif 2008, when we had to face serious law and order situation, farmers agitation and even police firing on account of non-availability of required fertilizers in time", he added.

Mr Yeddyurappa alleged that the Union Fertilizer Ministry has totally failed in its responsibility of making timely supplies to Karnataka. Besides the Union Secretary (Fertilizers) has written to the State Chief Secretary in which he has put the onus of ensuring availability of phosphatic and potassic fertilizers.

He said that under Section 6 of Fertilizer Control Order, the responsibility of supply of fertilizers to various states totaly rests with the Central Government and States have no control over fertilizer companies. Also since the subsidy amount paid to fertilizer manufacturers is in the hands of Union Ministry of Fertilizers they would be in the best position to direct various fertilizer companies to make available required quantity of fertilizers to Karnataka and to other States.

"In a scenario, where the demand far exceeds the supply of fertilizers in the country, if Union Fertilizer Ministry fails to discharge its responsibility of allocating fertilizers to various States, it is bound to create serious law and order problems and lead to anarchy and total mismanagement of fertilizer supplies", he added.

Mr Yeddyurappa has also written letters to the Chief Ministers of other States seeking their cooperation to make an united effort against the Center's decision of shifting the responsibilities of supply of fertilizers to the States.

UNI MSP HVB2012