Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 04:
The Gauhati High Court has taken up a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a farmer pertaining to scarcity of urea in Manipur and alleged failure of 20 recommended urea dealers to stock or provide the fertilizer.
The matter was heard today following the PIL by one Ningthoujam Inaobi Singh of Moidangpok village in greater Imphal.
He contended that urea is a Government controlled item and on the recommendation of the Government about 60 fertilizer dealers were appointed by the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Ltd, Assam.
Out of the total number of appointed dealers about 40 are functioning while the rest 20 are defunct since the last many years, said a statement released by the Manipur unit of Human Rights Law Network, whose counsel appeared on behalf of the petitioner.
Owing to landslides on National Highway 39, the State is facing scarcity of urea and with farmers being the hardest hit, the statement said adding that inspite of the demand made by the farmers authorities concerned had been indifferent on the matter.
Over and above there are instances of hijacking truck loads of fertilizer by Ministers and MLAs before the consignment reach their designated destinations.
The fertilizer dealers and sub-dealers have been selling urea at exorbitant price, it said.
Having heard the petitioner's lawyer, the court asked the counsel appearing on behalf of Manipur Agriculture Department to submit necessary information and respond to the allegations on the next date of hearing after two weeks.