GUWAHATI:
In light of the ongoing investigation into the urea scam in Assam, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Assam Police, on March 22, registered a criminal case and so far, has arrested nine people in connection to the scam.
“Nine people have been arrested. Eight of them own various retail and wholesale outlets. They’ve been selling urea at a much higher price than the rate prescribed by the government. A few also hoarded stocks, diverting them to middlemen and traders in neighbouring states and countries,” CID superintendent of police (SP), Pranab Goswami said in a statement.
As per government norms, one bag of urea is priced at Rs 266. Breaking the norms, they (retailers) sell at a higher rate, ranging between Rs 350 – Rs 450, per bag.
The retailers are duty-bound to sell the urea only to the farmers of their panchayat but are selling to other people beyond their jurisdiction, which includes non-farmers. As a result, ineligible people hoard and divert stocks, while the farmers of the local area continue to suffer.
The existence of several rackets operating in various districts of Assam has also been revealed.
Notably, the state has received Rs 5.15 lakh MT (total) of fertilisers, amounting to Rs 737 crore, since April 2021. As per the norms, the sale of fertilisers is to be done at the point of sale (PoS) devices.
In the last 10 months, huge transactions were undertaken by many retailers through different modes, be it cash or other unauthorised modes.
The CID conducted a discreet enquiry in February and later submitted a report to the state government, exposing large-scale irregularities in disbursement and sale of urea and fertilisers in Assam.
Chief Minister (CM), Himanta Biswa Sarma, issued a directive, following which the CID registered a case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act (ECA) and conducted raids at several places – Morigaon, Kamrup, Darrang and Cachar, to name a few.
Among other findings, the investigation has revealed there is an Integrated Fertiliser Management System (IFMS) portal, designed by the Ministry of Fertiliser and Chemicals (MFC), to maintain the database of procurement, distribution and sale of urea.
“The district agriculture officers (DAO) are supposed to monitor the data entry and work on sample verification. However, they have failed in their duties, resulting in the unhindered scam,” Goswami said, adding that the role of agriculture department officials is also under scrutiny.