Lup suspects urea shortage-poppy plantation link
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 19 2021: Expressing suspicion of siphoning off urea quota for farmers for poppy cultivation, Loumee Shinmee Apun Lup (LOUSAL) has demanded the government to form an enquiry committee to probe the way urea is distributed and utilised in the state and to bring out a report on poppy plantation in the state assembly election.

In a statement, LOUSAL informed that the state has only around 81,180 hectares of farmland which requires urea for paddy cultivation after deducting 88,820 hectares in the hills, 5000 hectares under MOMA's organic farming and 20,000 hectare submerged by projects.

On the other hand, failure of the government in enforcing the Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetlands Act, 2014 has resulted in loss of huge agricultural land.

As per estimate of the agriculture department, three 45-kg bags of urea is required in a hectare of farmland and by that calculation the state needs only 2,43,000 bags of urea.

Against this requirement, the Centre allotted 4,40,000 bags of urea to the state and as such the state is getting 1,97,000 bags of urea in excess.

The state government started transportation of urea from February this year and it is found available in the black market from April/May at the rate of Rs 600 while the department issued notification for distribution of urea only on June 30.Urea is a government controlled item and nobody is allowed to sell the same in the open market.

The department also issued a notification on July 17 declaring that any individual found selling urea in the open market will be booked as per the law.

However, urea is still available in the black market.

Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated a campaign to double farmers' income by 2022, farmers in the state are facing double expenditure, LOUSAL elaborated.

Considering the way the government is creating issues in urea distribution despite repeated assurance, it has become highly suspicious if the urea stocks are being diverted for poppy plantation.

There were instances of urea smuggled into Myanmar and reaching Golden Triangle through Moreh in the past.

In the last few years, poppy plantations are becoming common practice in several hill areas such as Churachandpur, Sugnu, Yairipok, Litan, Saikul, Sanakeithel, Koubru, Leimaram, Thangjing and Keithelmanbi among others.

As a result, there are high possibilities of siphoning off most of the urea share of the state for poppy cultivation inspite of the government's War on Drug mission, the statement said.

Expressing serious concern over the situation, LOUSAL demanded the government to form an enquiry committee and table a report on urea utilisation and distribution in the ensuing state assembly session; frame a proper urea distribution system based on the report; and to table a report on poppy cultivation including area of coverage under the illegal plantation, the statement added.

Comment