Expired fertilizers yet to be disposed off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 29 2013: Despite officials concerned having announced that expired fertilizers lying at the Central Plant Protection godown, Mantripukhri would be disposed off, the same huge pile of unused agricultural items remain at the said facility.

according to an official source, some of the factors impeding disposal process is alleged inaction by the west bengal Pollution Control Board and lack of unanimity amongst subject experts of the State.

Pointing out that consequent to a Supreme Court ruling for expeditious process to dispose expired fertilizers at selected disposal facilities, deliberations between officials of the State Government and (Union) Ministry concerned were held leading to the latter advising that the West Bengal PCB be consulted.

Following official intimation to the Ministry of Agriculture about a joint meeting (December, 2012) between officials of the state's Agriculture Department and Manipur PCB, the Ministry acknowledged that there is no fertilizer disposal facilities in the entire North East region and recommended approaching the West bengal PCB.

Expired feertilisers lying at the Mantripukhri godown

On February 11 this year, MPCB reportedly conveyed about the Ministry's advice to its West bengal counter-parts with the then member secretary of the latter namely Sandipan Mukherjee replying in the affirmative with the information that the chemical disposal task would be handled by a firm - Ms West Bengal Waste Management Limited.

If the conveyances had been translated into action, by now over 21,41,030 metric tonnes of unused fertilizers would have been carried away in air-tight containers from its present location.

Informing that the WBPCB remained indifferent on the matter on the ground that Sandipan Mukherjee has been replaced by another incumbent and the issue needs to be deliberated anew, the source confided that inspite of fresh intimations by the State's Agriculture Department officials the WBPCB are yet to declare their position till date.

Even though WBPCB approves the State's proposal there is still need for Manipur to get the consent of States through which the chemical wastes would be transported, explained the source adding that despite non-confirmation on the matter Agriculture Department (Manipur) officials are not relenting.

With regard to consensus eluding State experts, the source said that in the aftermath of WBPCB delaying the fertilizer disposal process, a joint meeting of subject experts from the Agriculture Department, Central Agriculture University and Manipur University was convened recently wherein differences in their views points cropped up.

Contrary to some experts stating that the expired fertilizers would be detrimental to human health and environment and referred to the 2004 Supreme Court ruling for disposal of such materials to substantiate their points, others contended that the decades old agricultural supplements would pose no threat to living beings.

Others present are said to have suggested stock-piling and burning the chemical waste at an isolated and compact location within Manipur.

It is said that fertilizer disposal facilities exist in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra pradesh.

Out of the expired fertilizers for controlling insects, weeds, rodents and pests lying at the Mantripukhri godown, maximum is in liquid form with gas the least.

The said fertilizers were reportedly brought to the godown in between 1968 and 1984 .

It may be noted that the issue of expired chemicals lying at the Mantripukhri godown had figured prominently and created a furore at a recent Assembly session.