Lapses of officers led to fertilizer scam in Assam: CID

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The CID said that the fertilizer scam took place in the state because of lapses of agriculture officers. The investigating agency also found several rackets involved in the illegal fertilizer trade.

The CID did register a criminal case in connection with the fertilizer/urea scam and investigated it thoroughly. The investigation revealed that there is an Integrated Fertilizer Management System (IFMS) portal designed by the Ministry of Fertilizer and Chemicals for maintaining a database of procurement, distribution and sales of urea. "However, the same is not done by the wholesalers or retailers in the state. The district agriculture officers, who are supposed to monitor the data entry and do sample verification, have failed in their duties, leading to the scam. The role of the Agriculture officials is also under scrutiny," the investigating agency said.

The CID raided in various places in Morigaon, Kamrup, Darrang, Cachar, Goalpara etc., districts, leading to the arrest of many people and seizure of trucks. The investigation revealed that "both wholesalers and retailers were selling fertilizer/urea at much higher rates. The retailers are duty-bound to sell the urea only to the farmers in their panchayat areas, but they sell urea to other people beyond their jurisdictions and to those who are not farmers. As a result, ineligible persons buy urea for hoarding and diverting stocks depriving the genuine farmers of that local area".

The investigation also revealed that some retailers have been hoarding the stocks to create an artificial scarcity and then selling the stocks at much higher prices. Further, the retailers are prudently selling fertilizer to traders/middlemen who divert fertilizer stocks to the neighbouring states/countries.

The investigation report said that the CID had formed several teams for conducting searches and stock verification at various locations in the state. "The investigation is going on a day-to-day basis under the close supervision of senior officers," the investigation report said.

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