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Ramesh Sharma

The Minister for Chemicals, Fertilisers and Steel, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, flanked by the Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Mr T. Nanda Kumar (left) and the Secretary, Department of Fertilisers and Mines, Mr Atul Chaturvedi, at the third meeting of Fertiliser Advisory Forum in the Capital on Sunday. —

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Oct. 5 The Department of Fertilisers has urged the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on gas pricing to ensure early gas connections to naphtha-based units to bring down production costs, which will reduce the rising fertiliser subsidy bill.

Addressing the third meeting of the Fertiliser Advisory Forum here on Sunday, the Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, said the EGoM has said that highest priority would be given to the fertiliser sector once the gas is available.

“But the gas has to be imported from other countries. Now, we have been told that indigenously produced gas would also be made available in a year or two but unless that happens, unless pipelines are laid, one has to try for more judicious and effective use of fertilisers,” he said.

Out of the fertiliser subsidy of around Rs 1.19 lakh crore for the current year, approximately 70 per cent is for units that run on naphtha or fuel oil and 30 per cent is for gas-based plants, which constitute 70 per cent of the units, he said.

Concerned over the increase in the use of fertiliser without simultaneous rise in foodgrain production, the Minister pointed out that 65 per cent of fertilisers get wasted as it falls on the ground and only 35 per cent is utilised. This is because the farmers traditionally spread the fertiliser over growing crop while only the portion that goes into the root provides nutrition. The maximum amount falls on the ground and is wasted, he said.

“The solution is that farmers have to be educated and for that talks are on with the Ministry of Agriculture,” he said.

Regarding distribution and availability across the country, Mr Paswan said that discussions are on with the Ministry of Railways so that at least one railway rake-point is set up in each district to ensure speedy movement.

Stating that only 350 out of the 604 districts have rake-points, the Minister added that the hilly districts rarely have any such points for despatching fertilisers in time.

More Stories on : Fertilisers | Petroleum

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