Basavaraj Bommai
Credit: PTI File Photo
New Delhi: BJP MPs from the state led by Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday called on Union Fertilisers Minister J P Nadda and urged him to supply additional urea to the state to meet the demand.
The MPs appraised the current requirement of urea in the state and demanded that the minister ensure the supply of additional quantity in the next 15 days.
Emerging out of the meeting, former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai - the Haveri Lok Sabha member - told reporters that against the seasonal requirement of 11.17 lakh tonne (LT) of urea and pro-rata requirement of 6.52 LT between 1 April and 27 July, the union ministry of fertilizers had ensured an availability of 8.82 LT, including opening stocks.
“At present, 1.35 LT of urea is still available in the state. Another 15,825 MT is in transit to Karnataka. Besides, Nadda promised to supply 1.35 LT more and this will reach the state in the next 15 days,” the former chief minister said.
Blaming the Congress government for the current urea crisis in the state, he said despite the geo-political challenges and reduced exports from key suppliers like China, the union government ensured adequate supply of urea to Karnataka, he said.
“It is the responsibility of the state government to ensure that stocks are made available where required and no hoarding and black-marketing takes place. The union government has issued advisories to Karnataka and other states regarding action to be taken against black-marketing, hoarding and diversion of the heavily subsidized urea for non-agriculture purposes. More focused action is required by the state government,” Bommai said.
“Despite knowing that the monsoon started early and requirement of urea was more, the agriculture department is not prepared to handle the situation,” he said.