JOIN USMinister of State for Agriculture Krishna Byregowda told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that the Agriculture department had been instructed to conduct random checks of fertilisers at outlets across the State after a racket pertaining to sale of spurious fertilisers was unearthed in Hassan and Tumkur districts.
Replying to an issue raised during zero hour, Byregowda said the government would get to the root of the racket and take action against those responsible for the sale of fake fertilisers. Following complaints from farmers, sale of spurious potash and its compounds was detected in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district and Gubbi taluk of Tumkur district.
The minister admitted that spurious fertilisers detected in Sakleshpur were being sold at a government-run primary agriculture cooperative society.
Byregowda said five persons had been arrested and investigation was on in full swing.
Deputy Commissioners and joint directors of the Agriculture department had been instructed to keep a check on the sale of fertilisers in their jurisdiction. “They will be held responsible for any lapses,” the minister said.
Earlier, raising the issue, C T Ravi (BJP) alleged the connivance of government officials in the racket.