Imphal, November 28: With suspicions of the involvement of big shots in the rampant smuggling of fertilisers from Manipur to Myanmar growing by the day, Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat has promised to crack down on the smuggling ring.

Fertilisers are made available to the farmers of India by the Centre at a highly subsidised rate (30 percent), but once it enters Myanmar, it means big money for those involved in these murky dealings.

Talking to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that a huge quantity of fertilisers, especially urea, are shipped into Manipur every year, but a large quantity of the consignments are shipped to Myanmar through the smuggling route, leaving the farmers high and dry here.

The involvement of influential people in this lucrative trade cannot be ruled out, added the source.

When The Sangai Express contacted Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat on the matter, he assured that it would be probed thoroughly and a crack down on the smuggling ring will be launched.

As reported earlier in this paper, fertiliser smuggling is being carried out right under the noses of the security personnel.

In 2002-03, the Centre allotted 1,62,005 quintals of fertilisers to the State while in 2003-04 the shipment was 2,14,770 quintals.

The fertilisers were given at highly subsidised rates to help the farmers and its import in any form is strictly banned.

As per the 2001 Census, Manipur is amongst the States in India to depend heavily on fertilisers and the use is mostly concentrated in the valley areas.

To a question how a huge quantity of fertilisers make their way into Myanmar, the source said that it could be after the same has been issued to the agents or it could be by quoting an inflated need to the Centre and smuggling the excess amount to Myanmar.

The source further questioned whether the police and Customs posted on the Imphal-Moreh route have ever arrested or Seized arty of the fertilisers meant to be smuggled across the border.

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