Govt opts for last year's transporters
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 23 2024: The State Government has initiated necessary procedures to entrust the task of shipping Urea for the current Kharif season to last year's transporters.

One official of the Agriculture Department said that the department has been working hard to ensure Urea is available to farmers in sufficient quantities during the current Kharif season.

The Government of India allocated 1,55,00,000 bags of Urea to the State for the current Kharif season.

Even as the Agriculture Department invited tenders for selection of transporters to ship in the allocated quantity of Urea, no transporter responded to the invitation.

As a result, the department had to float the tender again.

However, the monsoon season is expected to set in very soon and farmers would be starting agricultural activities once the seasonal rainfall arrives.

But holding a fresh e-tender to select transporters would take time.

Considering all these aspects, the department has initiated due procedure to entrust the task of shipping Urea to last year's transporters instead of holding fresh e-tender, said the official.

The department has already submitted a proposal of Rs four crore to the Government for shipping the first batch of Urea and payment of transport charges, said the official source.

In addition to issuing lifting order to the transporters, the department is also preparing to send a proposal to the Election Commission seeking approval for sanctioning Rs four crore.

At present, there are around 1,50,000 bags of Urea in the department's godown which were left from last year's Kharif and Rabi seasons.

These Urea bags would be made available to farmers during this year's Kharif season.

On the other hand, the State's Urea allocations for the months of February, March and April this year were not shipped because the department had no money, said the source.

Taking into account 1,50,000 bags of Urea left from last year and this Kharif season's allocation of 1,55,00,000 bags, 1,65,00,000 bags of Urea would be available with the department for distribution to farmers at subsidised prices.

Even if these 1,56,50,000 bags of Urea fall short of the requirement, the State can seek more allocation from the Centre, said the source.

There are two routes for shipping Urea to the State viz; Imphal-Dimapur highway and Imphal-Jiribam highway.

The department has been considering distributing the consignment of Urea brought on Imphal-Dimapur highway to farmers of some hill districts like Senapati and Kangpokpi.

The department is also considering sending a portion of the consignment that would be shipped along Imphal-Jiribam highway to Churachandpur through Mizoram.

However, the transportation charge of delivering Urea to Churachandpur via Mizoram is quite high.

As such, it is too early to say whether this option would be viable or not, added the source.

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