Naveen asks for more fertiliser for khariff crop

Bhubaneswar, Aug 08 (UNI) Expressing concern over the non-availability of fertiliser in many parts of Orissa, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today urged Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertiliser Ram Vilas Paswan to make available at least two lakh ton of urea.

Mr Patnaik, who met Mr Paswan today in New Delhi to discuss the non-availability of fertiliser, said as against the approved requirement of 3.75 lakh MT of urea, Orissa had received so far allocation of only 1.34 lakh ton through Essential Commodities (EC).

He requested the Union Minister to make available at least two lakh ton of urea from domestic producing units through EC allocation for the remaining period of the ongoing khariff cropping season.

The Chief Minister said this would reduce the dependency of the state on imported fertiliser.

The state government, he said, had taken up the matter with the Railway Ministry to operate 12 more railway rake for better fertiliser movement in the state.

Official sources said Mr Paswan had assured the Chief Minister of taking all necessary steps to ensure that adequate fertiliser would be made available in sufficient quantity for Orissa.

UNI