BJD leaders protest urea shortage in Ganjam

Berhampur: The BJD's Ganjam district unit on Monday protested at Chhatrapur, alleging a short supply of fertilisers, especially urea, to the district during the current kharif season.

Several former MLAs of the party took part in the protest, alleging that the farmers in the district were facing hardship due to the non-availability of urea. They took out a rally in the district headquarters town before demonstrating in front of the district collector's office. "Urea is essential at this time but the govt failed to supply it to the farmers on time," Bikram Panda, BJD's district unit president and former Berhampur MLA, said.

"There is no availability of urea in the primary agriculture cooperative society across the district. Farmers were forced to buy it at a higher rate from private dealers," Subash Chandra Behera, former Chhatrapur MLA, said. "We demand the govt urgently supply urea to Ganjam," Purna Chandra Swain, former Sorada MLA, said.

Kanhu Charan Pati, BJP national council member, said, "The govt has already clarified that there was no shortage of fertiliser in the state. We have also launched a crackdown on the illegal hoarding and selling of urea across the state."

Sources said the district administration has launched a crackdown on the illegal hoarding or selling of the fertiliser. In the last two days, they seized 120 bags of fertilisers for illegal selling. As many as 49 dealers have been issued show-cause notices for not maintaining the records properly. Sources said the govt supplied around 23,000 metric tons of urea against the requirement of 34,000 metric tons.