Imphal: The Agriculture Department in Manipur will initiate legal action against an unauthorised fertiliser dealer involved in the illegal transportation of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), commonly known as Diamond, following an incident in Moirang, officials said.
Speaking to media persons on Monday, Director of Agriculture Peter Salam said a Tata truck carrying fertiliser was intercepted by members of the public at Moirang in Bishnupur district on Sunday evening on suspicion of unauthorised transportation.
The truck, reportedly linked to Agro-Tech Solutions, was found carrying around 600 bags of DAP transported from Bihar.
Subsequent investigation revealed that Agro-Tech Solutions is neither an authorised nor a registered dealer permitted to transport or distribute fertilisers within the state.
The department has taken serious note of the incident, which is reported to be the first of its kind in Manipur.
Salam said the department is initiating necessary action against all concerned parties, including the supplier and the intended recipient, under provisions of the Essential Commodities Act and the Fertilizer (Control) Order. He added that strict measures will be enforced to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
On fertiliser availability, the director said that in preparation for the upcoming Kharif season, the department had distributed around 1,10,000 bags of fertilisers in the previous year, followed by an additional 1,80,000 bags supplied to farmers across the state.
At present, about 1,00,000 bags of fertilisers are available in departmental godowns. The department also plans to procure an additional 70,000 to 80,000 bags over the next three to four months.
To ensure easy access for farmers, around 150 distribution points have been set up across the state, along with door-to-door distribution initiatives.
The department has assured that adequate quantities of fertilisers will be made available to farmers for the upcoming Kharif season.
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