Poor supply of fertilisers due to logistics: Secretary

Mumbai, Jun 11 (UNI) Refuting the allegations that there was shortage of fertilisers in Maharashtra, principal secretary (agricultural) N B Patil today said it was not the problem of availability of imported Complex and DAP fertilisers but of logistics and transportation.

Speaking to reporters in Mantralaya here, Mr Patil said ''Although there is no problem of availability of DAP and Complex fertilizers, the problem is of logistics and transportation.'' He said both Complex and DAP fertilizers were imported in ample quantity and are lying in ports. Marathwada and Vidhrabha areas of Maharashtra could not get their supply due to un-availability of Railway bogies.

According to an official release by the Chief Minister's office, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested for the Central government's intervention to resolve the fertilizer supply problem.

Mr Deshmukh met Mr Singh at his residence in New Delhi this morning.

Mr Deshmukh pointed out that with the monsoon setting in most parts of Maharashtra, the supply of fertilizer was an urgent need.

He requested the Prime Minister to direct the Railways to increase supply of bogies.

The Principal Secretary said if the Railways adhere to the agreed schedule, then there would be no problem in Maharashtra.

Mr Patil pointed out that the state had placed orders for fertilizers at proper times and had been allotted 1.52 lakh metric tonnes of Complex and 1.32 lakh MT of DAP fertilisers for June, while 3.83 lakh MT of DAP and 3.73 lakh MT of Complex fertilisers had been received and distributed till May end.

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