MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS
AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY
OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a): M/s Indian potash limited (IPL) had imported 32210.160 MTs urea in
MV Saint Peter which arrived at Pipavav port on 25.09.2009. On receipt of a
complaint, Government of India had taken up the matter with Government of
Pakistan. The Pakistan Government informed that MV Saint Peter arrived at
Gwadar port on 22.08.2009 and berthed on 24.08.2009. The vessel did not
commence discharge of urea. It is also confirmed that no sample was drawn
at Gwadar port, however, as per the Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) report,
the % of grains of urea prill size of 1 to 3 MM was 86% instead of contracted
specifications of 90% and therefore the cargo was not accepted.
(b) & (c): Central Fertiliser Quality Control and Training Institute (CFQC&TI),
Faridabad had drawn 14 samples from the ship MV Saint Peter during the
discharge operations at Pipavav port from 26.09.2009. As per the report of
CFQC&TI, the urea loaded in MV Saint Peter conformed to the contractual
specification and also met the FCO specifications. After the receipt of a
complaint, a team consisting of one officer each from Department of Fertilizers
and CFQC &TI (Mumbai) was deputed to further investigate the matter. The team
took samples from the urea discharged by MV Saint Peter. This urea was stored
at Pipavav port. The analysis of second sample done in CFQC &TI, Mumbai also
conformed to the FCO specifications. However, the laboratory report indicated
that the second sample did not conform to the particle size specifications
provided in the Contract. Against the contractual requirement of 90% (80% under
FCO) the particle size retained on 1 mm IS sieve is reported to be 84.15%.
(d): The first report of the CFQC&TI confirmed the quality of urea loaded
in MV Saint Peter both as per contractual specification and FCO specification.
However, based on the second report, Rs.1,05,53,283/- was recovered by Government
of India towards particle size deficiency as per the contractual provisions.
(e) & (f): Department of Fertilizers (DOF) nominated an officer to investigate
the matter. The matter is still under examination, however based on the
preliminary observations, DOF has stopped accepting floating vessels in future
and a committee has been constituted to further improve upon the Quality Check
procedure of the imported urea.
