New Delhi: Officials who checked the quality of fertilizers sold in the open market in 2016 found 211 cases of substandard fertilizers being sold in Orissa. This included different kinds of adulteration and low quality fertiliser, a statement of the Centre said Tuesday.
The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers Tuesday gave data on cases of substandard fertilisers being sold in the country in different states. As per the data, in Orissa the authorities checked 6,052 samples and found 211 substandard.
This included 124 samples which were low on nutrients and another 87 were found unfit due to impurities or falling in physical parameters. However, the government report claims that despite finding 211 substandard samples no prosecution was launched against them. Orissa now has four fertiliser quality check labs at Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Rayagada and Berhampur.
Fertilisers have been declared an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities Act, (ECA) 1955.to ensure availability of quality material to farmers. States can take appropriate administrative and legal action against those not complying with the Fertilizers (Control) Order, 1985.
PNN