UCM decries urea politics, mulls legal action
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 28 2013: Insisting that Urea be made available to the farmers at the Government-fixed price of Rs 286.60 per bag, United Committee Manipur (UCM) has accused Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh of promoting urea/fertilizer politics.

Speaking to newspersons at its Lamphel office today, UCM's Development Committee chairman Chandramani Khumancha contended that the CM recently issued an order under which officials of departments concerned were asked to allot 3000 bags of Urea to each of the MLAs/Ministers from Assembly Constituencies in the valley districts and 1000 bags each to the people's representatives from the hill districts.

Noting that such a policy cannot guarantee equal and fair distribution of Urea to the farmers for elected members (MLAs) .

The issues to be brought up by us will be based on historical facts, ground realities are certain to favour their active workers/supports thus depriving the essential agricultural material to the genuine peasant community, Chandramani suggested that the CM instead focus on ensuring that the farmers get urea/fertilizer at subsidised rate.

With regard to the current issue of farmers either suffering from urea stock inadequacy or compulsion to purchase the same in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 700 urea due to requirement in the peak cultivation season, the committee chairman demanded that thorough investigation be launched on the shortage of urea in Manipur and the errant transporter or agent(s) blacklisted for non compliance to the assigned task.

Contrary to the annual requirement of about 15,000 metric tonnes (3 lakh bags approx.) the State had excess shipment of 50,000 MT urea last season as record suggest that over 1.37 lakh MT had been transported into Manipur, Chandramani claimed.

When such huge quantity of urea could be shipped in last year there should be no valid reason or excuse for the Government's failure to stock urea/fertilizer sufficiently this season, opined the chairman who also cited procedural delay in identifying transporter and issuance of order for the current problem besetting the state farmers.

Normally urea/fertilizer used to be brought into Manipur in April and May months but this year order for transportation of urea consignment was issued on June 3, he noted and insisted that the farmers deserved to be clarified on the belated move of the Government.

Alleging that despite acute shortage of urea at the Government's disposal some MLAs/Ministers had been exerting pressure on Agriculture Department officials for allotment of the essential agricultural item, chandramani voiced strong resentment against such a move by pointing out that under the Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojna (RKVY) substantial quantity of urea are collectively allotted (free) to MLAs representing rural assembly segments in the valley districts while their counterparts from ACs covered by Imphal Municipal Council and hill districts also get their share from the said scheme.

Urging the dealers to sell urea at the Government-fixed price of Rs 286.60 per bag and calling upon the State authorities to extend subsidy benefit to the urea dealers/agents so that the peasant community do not suffer, financially, the Development Committee chairman said at the factory rate a bag of urea cost only Rs 132.82 .

Suggesting that the Government and the Government-appointed dealers or agents need to have collective commitment in facilitating the farmers ensure food crop sufficiency, he said taking legal recourse to pull up errant officials and selfish dealers is an option the Committee intents to utilise to expose chronic malpractices associated with the urea policy.

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