Lok Sabha Question No. 2119 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-15
Subject: Inspection of Fertilizer Plants
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Mitesh Rameshbhai (Bakabhai) Patel, Shardaben Anilbhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2119 TO BE ANSWERED ON: 15.12.2023

## Inspection of Fertilizer Plants

## 2119: SHRI MITESH RAMESHBHAI PATEL (BAKABHAI): SHRIMATI SHARDABEN ANILBHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  inspections  of  fertilizer  plants  conducted  by  the  Government during the last two years, State-wise and year-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has banned the use of fertilizers for non-agricultural purposes and has cancelled the licenses of the violating plants during these inspections, if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (c) the  details  of  the  shortage  of  fertilizers  registered  due  to  cancellation  of licenses of fertilizer plants by the Government and the steps taken/ proposed to be taken to make up for such shortfall?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SHRI BHAGWANTH KHUBA)

- (a) to (c): Fertilizer is declared as an essential commodity and is notified under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985 and Fertilizer (Movement Control) Order, 1973. State Governments are adequately empowered under FCO to stop diversion of fertilizers for non-agricultural purposes and to take punitive action against any person/Fertilizer company  involved  in black marketing/smuggling  of  fertilizers violating  the  provisions  of  Essential  Commodities  Act,  1955  and  Fertilizer  Control Order, 1985.

Fertilizer  Flying  Squad  (FFS)  of  Department  of  Fertilizers  along  with  State Governments carries out regular joint inspections of fertilizer and related plants. The state-wise details of inspections carried out and licenses cancelled/action taken in the last 2 years are at Annexure -I.

The availability of chemical fertilizers in the last 2 years including current Rabi season remains comfortable and there is no shortage of fertilizers.

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## Annexure - I

| Sl. No.   | State/UT       |   No. of Units Inspected | Licenses Cancelled/Action Taken by State/UTs   |
|-----------|----------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Andhra Pradesh |                       10 | 1                                              |
| 2         | Bihar          |                       11 | 3                                              |
| 3         | Gujarat        |                       61 |                                                |
| 4         | Karnataka      |                       43 | 2                                              |
| 5         | Kerala         |                       60 | 24                                             |
| 6         | Maharashtra    |                       58 |                                                |
| 7         | Tamil Nadu     |                      111 | 2                                              |
| 8         | Telangana      |                        3 |                                                |
| 9         | Uttarakhand    |                        2 |                                                |
| 10        | Uttar Pradesh  |                        4 |                                                |
|           | Total          |                      363 | 32                                             |

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