Agri Dept to relocate fertilizer bags in Jiribam
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 25 2024: Acknowledging public concerns regarding potential harmful effects of fertilizer bags stacked in the open at the platform of Jiribam railway station, the agriculture department is said to be prepared for relocating the fertilizer consignment from the platform soon.

Additionally, transporters are said to be taking measures to transport the fertilizers to Imphal at the earliest.

Speaking to this daily, an official of agriculture department informed that the fertilizer bags are lying at the platform of Jiribam railway station due to delay in transportation to their destinations.

To prevent further damage, the fertilizer bags have been covered under plastic sheets.

Additionally, the department is in discussion with transporters to lift the fertilizers to Imphal at the earliest possible.

The official also mentioned that essential commodities are being transported from Jiribam to Imphal under security escorts, despite the challenges faced along the route amid the on-going violence.

The agriculture director has also written to the SPs concerned for prioritising transportation of the fertilizers, given their urgent requirement by farmers.

Currently, there are seven trucks in Jiribam, while another 24 have departed for Imphal under security escorts.

The official also mentioned that Urea bags in 42 train carriages arrived at Jiribam railway station on June 23.The department is making every effort to transport the fertilizers to Imphal using all available trucks, with the assistance of transporters.

People are also urged not to panic over the issue.

The department's move came amid consignment of 55,000 bags of fertiliser is currently lying exposed to the vagaries of weather on the platform of Jiribam railway station, causing discontent among local residents.

The fertilisers, transported by a special freight train on June 23, are being kept in the open barely covered by tarpaulins.

A total of 57,391 bags reached Jiribam railway station, but due to absence of a warehouse and the unexpectedly large shipment, the bags remain on the platform.

Locals are worried about the potential health hazards, such as cattle accidentally consuming the fertiliser and suffering fatal consequences.

Some of the bags have already been soaked by rain, resulting in leakage of the fertiliser solution into nearby areas.

A local resident, who is monitoring the fertiliser, recounted a past incident wherein rain-soaked fertiliser solution got drained into an open field, leading to death of several cattle.

He said that he is keeping watch there to prevent cattle from entering and facing a similar fate this time.

Sources indicate that the consignment was significantly larger than anticipated, highlighting a lack of communication between the authorities regarding the storage capabilities in Jiribam.

Local residents are urging the authorities to load the fertilisers on the empty trucks even though they are not ready to move to Imphal in order to prevent further damage by rain.

Residents have also called for future consignments to be delivered in smaller batches to avoid such storage issues and have requested for construction of adequate warehouses to house large shipments.

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