Article Today, Hyderabad
Telangana is facing a severe urea shortage, with a deficit of 1.14 lakh metric tons, amid allegations of gross mismanagement by the state agriculture department. The crisis has sparked concerns of black marketing and profiteering by middlemen, allegedly in collusion with some officials.
Shortfall Amidst Peak Season
The central government had allocated 9.80 lakh metric tons of urea for the state’s kharif season, but the supply has been irregular. As of May, the centre had supplied only 2.16 lakh metric tons against the allocated 3.30 lakh metric tons, leaving a shortfall of 1.14 lakh metric tons. This shortage is expected to severely impact farmers, who are in dire need of fertilizers for their crops.
Lack of Proactive Measures
Critics accuse the state agriculture department of failing to take proactive measures to secure adequate urea supplies from the central government. “Instead of scrambling at the last minute, the department should have engaged with the centre well in advance to ensure sufficient allocation,” said an official. The department’s inaction has led to a situation where farmers may have to suffer the consequences.
Minister’s Review Meetings Under Fire
The state’s agriculture minister, Thummala Nageswara Rao, has come under fire for his handling of the crisis. His review meetings have been described as “mere formalities,” with little concrete action taken to address the shortage. The minister’s failure to hold timely press conferences to address the issue has also raised eyebrows.
CM’s Directives Ignored
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had reportedly directed the agriculture department to ensure timely availability of fertilizers, but his instructions seem to have fallen on deaf ears. The department’s failure to implement the CM’s directives has led to accusations of incompetence and negligence.
Markfed Officials Under Scanner
Markfed officials have also been criticized for their handling of the situation. They have been accused of failing to provide timely updates on the urea shortage, leading to delays in taking corrective action. The officials’ claims that there is no shortage have only added to the confusion.
Black Marketing Fears
The urea shortage has raised fears of black marketing, with some officials allegedly colluding with middlemen to profiteer from the crisis. The state government needs to take urgent action to prevent this and ensure that farmers get the fertilizers they need.
Director Sent to Delhi
In a belated move, the state government has decided to send Agriculture Director Gopinath to Delhi to negotiate with the central government for additional urea supplies. However, critics question the timing of this move, saying it should have been done much earlier.
