Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 29:
The Centre has started closely monitoring the smuggling of Urea to Myanmar by some influential individuals including politicians from the quota allocated to the State.
In addition to the allocated quota, the State has been demanding another 38,000 tones of Urea for the kharif season.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, an official of the Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers informed that the Centre is closely monitoring the export of urea meant for the farmers of the State to Myanmar by some influential individuals for profit and it would take up such measures as reducing the quantity of Urea allocated to Manipur, if necessary.
To a question concerning export of Urea to Myanmar by some influential persons including MLAs, the official informed that the Ministry has no report of such dealings.
There is no report of police arresting MLAs for smuggling out Urea to Myanmar.
The Ministry received only demands for increased allocation of the same, he said.
Even as one ton of Urea is sold at the rate of Rs 12,000 in the international market, the Union Government is providing Urea to the farmers of the country at the subsidised rate of Rs 4840 only, he mentioned.
If the misuse of Urea allocated to farmers is not stopped, the State Government would be given strict written instruction to stop the misuse, conveyed the official.
As part of its plan to check misuse of Urea, the Ministry has instructed that the quantity of Urea required by each district of the State be calculated and to provide the required quantity to the districts directly on monthly basis, the official disclosed.
According to information received from the Ministry, during the current kharif season (April-September), the State has just 1250 tons of urea in its account against the total allocated quantity of 37,000 tons.
In addition to this, the State demanded another 38,000 tons of urea from the Ministry.
For the Rabi season, the State is demanding 14,900 tons of urea above the allocated quantity of 14,200 tons.
Even then, the Ministry has allocated only the usual quantity of 14,200 tons, informed the source.
It may be recalled here that some MLAs and personnel of Police Depart ment were nabbed by police from Moreh for trying to smuggle out urea to Myanmar.