Telangana: Farmers allege PACS, DCMS organisers behind urea diversion

Farmers in Mancherial district are facing a severe urea shortage as fertiliser is allegedly diverted to Maharashtra and sold on the black market. Farmers accuse cooperative organisers and officials of collusion, while the government insists steps are underway to prevent smuggling

Mancherial: Long queue lines of farmers to buy urea have become a common scene in Telangana, reflecting an unprecedented crisis prevailing in agriculture sector. However, agriculture officials are drawing flak for failing to prevent diversion of urea in certain parts of erstwhile Adilabad district to Maharashtra.

A total of 48 tonnes of urea was diverted from a centre in Nennal to neighbouring Maharashtra recently. Organisers of the centre reportedly sold the urea on the black market. A proprietor of Hyderabad Agriculture Cooperative Society (HACA) was apprehended for his role in the diversion of 150 bags of subsidised urea to Maharashtra in July.

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It is learnt that some organisers in Chennur and Kotapalli mandals are diverting urea to Maharashtra, while some others from Bellampalli, Thandur, Bheemini and Kannepalli mandals are selling the fertiliser to farmers from Kumram Bheem Asifabad district at higher prices than fixed by the government. The menace goes unabated in Luxettipet, Jannaram and Jaipur mandals.

Farmers alleged that certain greedy organisers of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS), District Cooperative Marketing Societies (DCMS), agro centres and HACAs were indulging in the offence to make a fast buck. They accused officials of backing the errant organisers by accepting bribes. They attributed lack of supervision to the diversion of urea to Maharashtra and the black market.

Meanwhile, a district-level officer was forced to take a long leave following allegations of diversion against officials and pressure exerted by public representatives in allocation of the urea to their Assembly segments. Sources said that the elected representatives were competing with each other to get a sufficient quota of the urea. The officer bore the brunt of wrongdoings committed by lower-rank officials and the pressure.

Officials said that three cases were booked against organisers of the centres for diversion of urea. A check-post was set up at bordering Parupelli village in Kotapalli mandal to check diversion of urea to Maharashtra. Steps were being taken to supply the fertiliser to eligible farmers, they stated.

The officials maintained that no additional quota was being given to any Assembly segment as alleged by farmers.