Bhopal: Fertilizer distribution was discussed in a major meeting by the Madhya Pradesh government yesterday; today, it has turned into a political issue. The state’s former Chief Minister, Digvijaya Singh, filed a video message on social media to charge that the present state government was supporting the black marketing of fertilizers. Singh accused the government and the administration of supporting this malpractice.
He emphatically endorsed that the distribution of fertilizers should be made through cooperative societies and the State Marketing Federation and not through private traders. By rejecting the proposal for an increase in fertilizer prices, the government is allowing the black marketing of fertilizer to go on in the private sector unchecked, as alleged by Singh. He just used disappointment in the capacity of the government to handle the situation.
Singh further pointed out that the consumption of fertilisers in Madhya Pradesh had been estimated at around 8 lakh metric tons per annum. But only 15% of this quantity requirement is supplied, making farmers compete and find it hard to access the needed supply. He noted that there are government-owned warehouses to store the fertilizer in almost all districts in the state, but the system has broken down due to negligence and corruption.
Singh takes the government seriously and fulfils their part with integrity by making necessary changes to the existing distribution program. He claimed that the farmers of Madhya Pradesh are being adversely affected by these irregularities, and it is high time they addressed this problem. It finally brought to the centre of focus the government to come down to the state to fix appropriate solutions to the cause and effect scenario highlighted that ends at the plight and demanding to implement strict measures for a fair distribution of fertilizers to provide much-needed relief to the farmers.
This statement contributed to the political conflict on fertilizer distribution in the state, and Singh’s allegations mounted further pressure on the government.
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