whether complaints have been received from various quarters regarding manufacture, distribution and sale of fertilizers not conforming to the prescribed standards;
(b) if so, the number of such complaints received from the States along with the action taken thereon during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT wise; and
(c) the remedial measures taken/being taken by the Government to protect the interest of farmers?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERILIZERS
(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)
(a) & (b): State wise information regarding number of fertilizer samples analysed and not found in conformity with the laid down quality parameters during last 4 years is placed at Annexure I (a) -
(d). Further, State wise details of follow up action during last 4 years in respect of the samples not found as per the quality parameters is placed at Annexure II (a) to (d).
(c): State Governments have been empowered to ensure quality of fertilizers besides stopping black marketing/smuggling of fertilizers. State Governments are adequately empowered to conduct search, make seizures and take punitive action against any person violating provisions of FCO, 1985 and Essential Commodity Act, 1955. In addition, Department of Fertilizers has, from time to time, written to the Chief Secretaries, Ministry of Home Affairs to activate the enforcement agencies under their jurisdiction to take action in this regard. Further, Department of Fertilizers, through weekly video conference with Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and representatives of State Government has been sensitizing and advising the State Governments for keeping strict vigil and for taking of prompt action by the State Governments to check black-marketing, diversion, smuggling and breach of MRP etc. In addition, the fertilizers which are not found according to the specified quality standards are not paid any subsidy.
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