Centre being partial in fertilizer allocation to states: UP

Uttar Pradesh Saturday blamed the central government of being partial in supplying fertilizers to states.

At a meeting here to review availability of fertilizers, specially urea in the rabi season, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav asked officials to collect data so that a letter could be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this regard.

Officials apprised the chief minister that sowing of rabi crops was almost through in the state and for top dressing, demand of urea has grown considerably. He was also informed that the state depended on the central government for availability of fertilizers.

Officials said 38 lakh metric tonnes urea was required for the crop but only 35 lakh metric tonnes has been allotted by the central government, leading to a shortage.

During the meeting, officials also informed that IFFCO has closed down its urea plant at Phoolpur in Allahabad which has brought down the fertilisers supply to the state to the lowest level of 0.10 lakh metric tonnes while the minimum supply should be around 0.60 lakh metric tonnes.

Officials said that in October, the state's urea quota was 6.39 lakh metric tonnes but it was only given 4.95 lakh metric tonnes, while in November against the allotment of 6.50 lakh metric tonnes, the state only got 5.58 lakh metric tonnes - thus leading to a shortage of 2.36 lakh metric tonnes.

The quota for December is 8.50 lakh metric tonnes while till Dec 18, only 4.21 lakh metric tonnes has been received by the state and the shortfall is expected to be 1.25 lakh metric tonnes, an official said.