Days after the Odisha Government claimed it had streamlined fertilizer supply to meet farmers’ requirements, the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday strongly refuted the claim, alleging that “farmers are in deep distress due to an acute shortage of fertilizers and rampant black marketing.”
“With the State reeling under fertilizer shortage, farmers across all 30 districts continue to protest on the streets. The State Government is playing a cruel joke on farmers by making misleading statements about ample availability of fertilizers,” former Minister and BJD vice-president Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak told reporters here today.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Nayak said that former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik had written to Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers JP Nadda, urging him to ensure timely supply of fertilizers to Odisha and expedite the operationalization of the Talcher plant. “But both the State and Central governments have done precious little to mitigate the farmers’ plight,” Nayak alleged.
Amid rampant black marketing, the Opposition also questioned whether the fertilizers being procured were actually reaching the intended farmers.
According to government review data, fertilizer distribution was found to be irregular at more than 1,200 sales counters. Additionally, 62 counters were operating only partially, while 30 were completely shut down. “These findings clearly point to severe irregularities in the distribution system,” Nayak added.
Although the government has fixed the price of a 45 kg fertilizer bag at Rs 242, reports from several districts suggest it is being sold at exorbitant rates ranging from Rs 800 to Rs 1,000.
Nayak further accused Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Singh Deo and BJP State President Manmohan Samal of “misrepresenting ground realities by claiming there is neither a shortage of fertilizers nor irregularities in the supply chain.”
“The BJP government, which came to power with the slogan of ‘Double Engine, Double Development,’ seems to have derailed both engines. Among its many failures, the most glaring is its inability to ensure timely fertilizer supply,” Nayak said, urging the government to take urgent corrective measures to resolve the crisis.