Government is taking multiprolonged measures to avert diversion and black marketing of fertilizers in the country. Following the measures, Special teams of dedicated officers called Fertilizer Flying Squads have been formed to keep a strict vigil and to check diversion, black marketing, hoarding and supply of sub-standard quality of fertilizers across the country. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said that the Fertilizer Flying Squads undertook 370 surprise inspections across 15 states and UnionTerritories, wherein 30 FIRs filed for diversion of urea, 70,000 bags seized of spurious urea. 112 mixture manufacturers have been deauthorized due to several discrepancies and lapses found in documentation and procedures.
The Ministry added that 11 persons have been jailed under Prevention of Blackmarketing and Maintenance of Supplies Act for diversion and black marketing of urea in the last one year. It said that these steps have resulted in keeping a check on diversion of urea meant for farmers for agricultural purposes. Despite the world facing a fertilizer crisis due to various global downturns, the government is providing urea to farmers at reasonably subsidized rates. The Ministry further added that proactive measures have also created cross-country demand for local fertilizers. Stoppage of cross-border smuggling of urea have consequently led to neighboring countries requesting India for urea imports for the first-time
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