Imphal, August 12: The question : Where has the 50 pc of the State's share lifted before the blockade disappeared ?

So far everyone has been led to believe that the acute shortage of fertilisers facing the State was due to the 52 days indefinite economic blockade imposed by the All Naga Students' Association.

However a little nosing around has brought the skeletons tumbling out of the closet to establish that the scarcity has to do more with human machinations rather than the economic blockade.

Read on...

Much before the economic blockade was imposed by ANSAM, the State had already received fifty percent of the State's quota of fertilisers.

A highly placed person, who The Sangai Express contacted during the course of the probe, disclosed that much before the economic blockade was imposed from June 19 midnight, the State had started the process of bringing in the State's share of fertilisers from April. This went on till June, before the blockade was imposed and the total quantity of fertilisers lifted by the State had touched fifty percent of the State's quota for this year, added the source.

The State's share of fertilisers for the year 2002-03 was 1,62,005 quintal while its share saw a quantum jump in 2003-04 with 2,14,770 quintals, informed the source.

Since the rain was not sufficient this time, the demand of fertilisers from the farmers did not touch the mark of the preceding years, added the source. The fifty percent of the State's share received this year is half the amount that the State received in 2003-2004, said the source.

The question therefore remains where the lifted fertilisers have disappeared.

If the lifted fertilisers had actually reached the stores of the State, then the same could have been distributed/sold to the farmers on time this year, added the source.

As there is still no sign to show that the earlier lifted fertilisers actually reached the State, the same may have been sold off to tea gardens at Assam.

The possibility of officials being involved in the shady deals cannot be ruled out, said the source further.

A certain amount of the fertilisers lifted earlier may also have been smuggled to neighbouring Myanmar for a premium, said the source.

The assumption that the State is facing acute shortage of fertilisers due to the economic blockade will only be partially true as the State had already received half of its share this year.

During the recently held SPF Legislature meeting to discuss the problems arising out of the shortage of fertilisers, SPF MLAs grilled the Agriculture Minister on where the earlier lifted fertilisers had disappeared, disclosed the source. When The Sangai Express contacted Agricul- ture Minister Ph Parijat he denied that he was grilled during the SPF meeting.

The Minister also said the fertilisers were transported under strict sur- veillance and added that he has no idea whether the fertilisers were sold off at Assam.

Fertiliser smuggling is not something new.

Some time back, the Govt had banned the shipment of fertilisers to Chandel after TSE ran a story on smuggling.

Farmers had taken to the street to demand their share of fertilisers during the last few days, with the people of Kakching, Moirang and Thoubal being the most vocal.

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