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

Bangalore, Sep 12 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to change the present system of supply of fertilizers from the Centre to the states.

Stating that the present method 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 during the kharif till last month, the State had received only 46 per cent of complexes and 32 per cent of urea.

''You are aware that Karnataka has been experiencing severe shortage of fertilizers for the last one year. The situation was precarious during kharif, 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 pointed out in his letter.

Alleging that the Union Fertilizer Ministry had totally failed to make timely supplies to Karnataka, Mr Yeddyurappa said Secretary, Union Fertilizer had written to the State Chief Secretary in which he had put the onus of ensuring availability of phosphatic and potassic fertilizers.

The Chief Minister said under Section 6 of Fertilizer Control Order, the responsibility of supply of fertilizers to various states primarily rests with the Central Government and States have no control over fertilizer companies.

Also, since the subsidy amount paid to fertilizer manufacturers was 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 had also written letters to Chief Ministers of other States, seeking their cooperation to make an united effort against the Centre's decision of shifting the responsibilities of supply of fertilizers to the states.

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