The Madhya Pradesh Police has registered an FIR against the Krishak Bharti Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO) and a transporter of criminal breach of trust on a complaint of the agriculture department for allegedly not supplied 1020 metric tons urea to various districts.

Earlier Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a meeting instructed the Jabalpur district officials to lodge FIR against those who deprive farmers of fertiliser and do not be spare such persons.

He said at the time when farmers need fertiliser the most there is a panic for fertiliser, it is a crime.

Chouhan took an emergency meeting regarding the urea allotted to the districts of Jabalpur division. In the meeting Agriculture Production Commissioner Shailendra Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Ajit Kesari, Divisional Commissioner Jabalpur B Chandrashekhar and officials of Police, Administration of Jabalpur and Markfed attended virtually.

According to the police, the FIR is registered Rajendra Choudhary of KRIBHCO, Dwarka Gupta transporter of DPMK Fertilizers Limited, Rakes handler state manager Jai Prakash Singh and others under sections 409, 34 and 120B of IPC and sections 3, 7 of Essential Commodities Act.

The FIR is registered in Lordganj police station of Jabalpur on basis of the complaint of State Agriculture Department’ MARKFED district manager Rohit Baghel.

The agriculture department during verification of the urea stock arrived in Jabalpur on August 24 , 2022 found that 1020 metric tons of urea was not supplied to various districts including Damoh and Mandla, the police said .

Chouhan said strict action should be taken against the culprits, which should become an example.

The companies engaged in distribution of fertilisers will not work, take action against the culprits, Chouhan instructed district officials. The culprits should be arrested immediately after registering a FIR.

Chouhan inquired about alternative arrangements for supply of urea in the affected districts.

He directed that farmers should not face any problem of fertiliser anywhere in the state.

Adequate allocation for the state has been ensured in coordination with the Central government.

A close watch should be kept on the supply of fertiliser to the farmer. Farmers should not be face shortage of fertiliser at the time of need.

Chouhan was informed by Jabalpur Divisional Commissioner that urea fertiliser was to be supplied by Kribhco Fertilisers Limited. On August 25, 2600 metric tonnes of rakes were installed in Jabalpur.

Kribhco supplies urea through private transporters to various districts. They were transported by transporters between 28 and 31 August.

Kribhco was told how much allocation has to be made in which double lock of which district.

But instead of the mentioned double locks, urea was supplied at private places. As a result, the supply of urea was affected in Jabalpur, Mandla, Dindori, Seoni and Damoh. Of the total 2600 metric tonnes of urea, 70 percent urea was to be given to government agencies and 30 percent to the private sector.

The supply to government agencies was not done as per the instructions.