Shop found stocking 400 bags of subsidised urea
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 12 2022: Amidst the growing apprehension of low crop yield due to belated provision and application of fertilisers, Loumee Sinmee Apun Lup (LOUSAL) alleged that a shop dealing in agricultural items at Wabagai Lamkhai was found stocking 400 bags of subsidised urea in the name of Wabagai MLA Dr Usham Deben.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here on Tuesday, LOUSAL president Mutum Churamani revealed that the organisation, on receipt of reliable information, launched a drive at the shop owned by one Naorem Santa on Monday evening.

As the team reached the shop, it was found closed, but contacted the owner and reopened the shop, where 400 urea bags meant for distribution to farmers at subsidised rate were found.

On questioning about the fertiliser bags, the shop owner and members of KADUCO, who also showed up there, said that the fertilisers were brought in the name of MLA U Deben on July 8.However, while trying to find out the owner of the fertilisers, members of KADUCO started distributing the urea to people and tried to destroy the evidences.

While demanding the Wabagai MLA to make a public clarification regard ing the matter, Churamani said that department concerned should take up a case against the shop owner Santa and all those indulging in black marketing of fertilisers should be punished.

Regarding the storming of the warehouse located at Lamphel by farmers and destroying some urea bags on Monday, he said that the incident occurred as staff of the department did not know the importance of fertilisers to farmers and because of their negligence.

In order to avoid such incident, manpower of agriculture department i.e., the staff should be increased and there is also the need of sincere officials who work not at the whims of MLAs and ministers, he opined, while stressing the need of making soil health card so that the government may know quantity of fertilisers required by farmers.

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