Lok Sabha Question No. 4197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-01-07
Subject: Export of Fertilizers
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: RAGHAV LAKHANPAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4197 TO BE ANSWERED ON  07 th  JANUARY, 2019

## EXPORT OF FERTILIZERS

## 4197.   SHRI RAGHAV LAKHANPAL:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वा ͨणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंğी ) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there have been reports of clandestine export of fertilizers to neighbouring countries;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (c) the  mechanism  being  devised  by  the  Government  to  prevent  such  incidents  in future?

## ANSWER

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## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (c)  Government of India has declared fertilizer as an essential commodity under the Essential Commodities  Act,  1955(ECA)  and  notified  Fertilizer  (Control)  Order  (FCO),  1985 &  Fertilizer (Movement  Control)  Order,  1973  under  the  EC  Act.  The  Department  of  Fertlizers,  Ministry  of Chemicals and Fertlizers has informed that the State Governments have been adequately empowered to check smuggling of fertilizers and the State Governments are empowered to conduct search, make seizures and take punitive action against any person violating provisions of FCO, 1985 and Essential Commodities  Act,  1955.  Details  of  seizure  of  fertilizers  along  Indian  Borders  during  the  last  three years and current year upto 30.11.2018 by the Border Guarding Forces of all land borders,  collected by Ministry of Home Affairs and as reported by the Department of Fertlizers,  are as follows:-

## India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh Border:

|        |      |     |      |   Fertilizers seizure (in KG) |
|--------|------|-----|------|-------------------------------|
| Seized | 7749 | 587 | 1515 |                           557 |

## Indian-Nepal and Indo China Border:

| Particular   | Year 2015   | 2016   | 2017   | 2018 (Up to   |
|--------------|-------------|--------|--------|---------------|
| Seized       | 2,23,250    | 70,650 | 64,300 | 36,987        |

## Fertilizers seizure (in KG)

## India-Myanmar Border:-

Fertilizers seizure (in KG)

| Particular   | Year 2015   | 2016   | 2017   | 2018 (Up to 30.11.18)   |
|--------------|-------------|--------|--------|-------------------------|
| Seized       | 12,000      | Nil    | Nil    | 1,100                   |

It has also been informed by the Department of Fertlizers that the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Border Guarding Forces' have taken the following measures to check cross border smuggling along Indian Borders (IB) :-

- (a)  Vulnerability mapping of Border Out Posts (BOPs) has been done and being reviewed from time to time from the point of view of cross-border crimes. Strengthening of BOPs is done by deploying additional manpower, special Surveillance, Equipment, vehicles and other infrastructure support.
- (b)  Effective domination of the borders by carrying out round the clock surveillance of the border viz patrolling, laying nakas, establishing of observation posts all along the IB and strengthening of existing defences of the BOPs.
- (c) Erection  of  Border  fencing  and  Installation  of  Border  floodlight  on  the  International  Border along Pakistan and Bangladesh Borders.
- (d)  Use  of  Water  crafts/boats  and  floating  BOPs  for  domination  of  riverine  area  along  IndiaPakistan and India-Bangladesh Border.
- (e)  Sharing of intelligence and close liaison with sister agencies.
- (f) Conduct  of  special  operations  along  the  border  and  in-depth  areas.  Introduction  of  Force multipliers and Hi-tech Surveillance equipment.
- (g)  Random checking and nakabandi to check illegal activities.

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