Lok Sabha Question No. 900 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: Shortage of Fertilizers
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: SANTOSH KUMAR, RODMAL NAGAR, ELUMALAI VELLAIGOUNDER

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 900 TO BE ANSWERED ON : 01.03.2016

## Shortage of Fertilizers

900:

SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR: SHRI NAGAR ROADMAL: SHRI V. ELUMALAI:

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

- (a) whether there is shortage of fertilizers, particularly Potash fertilizers in the country, if the details thereof State-wise and reasons therefor; SO,
- (b) whether the Government proposes to set up plants for the manufacturing of fertilizers in the country; if the details thereof; SO,
- (c) the targets set for production of fertilizers the Five Year Plan and the steps taken by the Government to meet the requirement of fertilizers especially the current year and forthcoming season in the country, State/UT ~wise; 12th during during
- (d) whether the Government any plan to release more fund to increase the fertilizer production in the country, if the details thereof; and has
- (e) whether the Government has ay proposal to revamp the existing pricing policy for sale of fertilizers and the monitoring mechanism for supplyldistribution of fertilizers, if the details thereof? SO,

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS

(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a): There is no shortage of fertilizers including Muriate of Potash (MOP) in the country.

(b) & (c): Yesa Madam: The Government had notified New Investment Policy 2012 on January, 2013 and its   amendment on 7th October 2014 to facilitate fresh investment in urea sector and to make India self-sufficient in the urea sector. At present; there are 6 proposals with Department of Fertilizers for setting up of Greenfield and Brownfield (Expansion) projects.

Apart from this, Government has taken steps for the revivallrestructuring of the closedlsick PSUs. At present; all the   five units of FCIL (Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited) and three units of HFCL (Hindustan Fertilizers

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Corporation Limited) are lying closed As per CCEA decision dated 09.05.2013 two units of the FCIL namely Ramagundam and Talcher are revived on nomination basis' Further, as decided by union Cabinet on 31.03.2015 Gorakhpur FCIL and Barauni HFCL are to be revived on 'bidding route while as per decision of the Cabinet dated 21.05.2015 the Sindri unit of the FCIL is be revived on 'bidding route' Setting up of fertilizer plants at all these locations is proposed. being

The Government has also notified the New Urea Policy 2015 on 2015 for existing gas based urea units with the objectives of maximizing indigenous urea production; promoting energy efficiency in urea production; and rationalizing subsidy burden on the Government; 25th May,

In addition to the above, it is   informed that the Union Cabinet on 21.05.2015 has approved for setting up of a new-brownfield Ammonia-Urea Complex in the existing premises of the BVFCL at Namrup (Assam)\_

Further to ensure adequate availability as per demand in the current season and the forthcoming season, the Department of Fertilizers has taken following steps:-

- (1) The month-wise demand is assessed and projected by the Department of  Agriculture & Co-operation and Farmers Welfare   (DACRFW) in
- (2) On the basis of month-wise & state-wise projection given by DACRFW Department of   Fertilizers allocates quantities of fertilizers to States by issuing monthly supply plan and continuously monitors the availability through following system:
3. The movement of all major   subsidized   fertilizers is  being   monitored an on-line web based   monitoring   system (www.urvarakco.in) also called as Fertilizer Monitoring System (FMS);
4. The State Governments are regularly advised to coordinate with manufacturers and importers of fertilizers for streamlining the supplies through timely placement of indents for railway rakes through their state institutional agencies like Mairkfed etc.
5. Regular Weekly Video Conference is conducted jointly by Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Department of   Fertilizers (DoF), and of Railways with State   Agriculture Officials and corrective actions are taken to dispatch fertilizer as indicated by the State Governmerts.
6. (iv) The gap between demand (requirement) and production is met through import:
7. (d) & (e): So far as urea sector is; concerred, there is no such proposal: