Police on toes to check smuggling of fertilizers: SP Cachar

Silchar, April 7: Concrete steps are being taken and viable efforts are being made by Cachar police to prevent and check rampant smuggling of urea. Huge amount of urea, meant for the farmers of this district, are illegally being taken to Mizoram. In the last 2, 3 months, police have been able to curb this rampant illegal process. Arrests have been made, goodowns have been sealed and check posts have been installed by the police. This information was shared by Rakesh Roushan, Superintendent of Police, at a press-meet held in the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar, Silchar, on Friday.

"So far, 2 cases have been registered, 6 trucks have been detained and 3 culprits arrested. Police is active and alert. We will leave no stones unturned in catching the culprits. Urea is costly in Mizoram and is sold at a much higher price," said SP Rakesh Roushan. Zakir Hussain Choudhury, district agriculture officer, said that the cost of production of one kg of urea is Rs.22. "Urea is given to the farmers at a subsidized rate fixed by the government. It costs Rs.6 per kg," said the district agriculture officer. Ashim Kumar Dutta, chief mager, marketing, Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Ltd., a government of India undertaking, pointed out the every year 3 to 4 lakh tons of urea are produced, out of which 45 to 50% are used in the tea garden areas. Every year about 30,000 metric tons of urea is used in tea garden areas. 

On the other hand, S Lakshman, Deputy Commissioner of Cachar said, "All fertilizers that are taken to Mizoram are not illegal. In Cachar, there are 18 registered wholesale dealers of fertilizers."