(a) whether the Union Government is spending funds for carrying out research on a
variety of fertilizers;
(b) if so, the details thereof in Andhra Pradesh as compared to other States; and
(c) the funds spent on such research during the Eleventh Five Year Plan?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS AND
MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
(SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA)
(a) to (c): There is a Plan Scheme titled “Science & Technology†Programme in the Department
of Fertilizers under which Grants are given to various reputed institutes in the country.
Funds are not released State wise. The Science & Technology (S&T) Programme of Department
of Fertilizers primarily lays emphasis at research & development of processes and equipments
to lower specific energy consumption in fertilizer plants. Besides projects in the area of
adopting pollution free means for chemical reaction in fertilizer plant vis-Ã -vis disposal
of hazardous spent catalyst after recovery of valuable metals, recharging the fertility of
the soil are also being sponsored by this Department. In addition, some projects on the side
of fertilizer and insecticide usage in agricultural crops etc. are also being considered from
the year 2006-07 onwards. All these Research & Development projects are being sponsored by
this Department through premier academic institutions with the ultimate objective of
disseminating successful outcomes to the fertilizer industry for adoption in production
process.
During Annual Plan 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 Plan Expenditure under
S&T Programme is given below:
(Rs. in crore) Year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Actual 4.74 1.38 1.38 1.44 1.35