Srinagar, Apr 3:  State Government on Tuesday said investigations are on in the seizure of substandard fertilizers imported to Kashmir last week and action against the company under scanner could lead to cancellation of its license.
 Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir told Greater Kashmir Police have registered the case and action would follow as per the rules. “It could range from a fine to cancellation of the license to the company,” Mir said.
 With Kashmir preparing for fresh crop season authorities had last week seized large consignment of substandard fertilizers illegally imported into the Valley by New Delhi based company IFFCO.
 More than 2637.6 metric-tons (26000 quintals) of the substandard fertilizer, Di-Ammonium Phosphate, was imported and transported to different districts for sale to farmers and fruit growers. Police Station Nowgam has already registered a case in this matter.
 However, a senior official in the Agriculture department said authorities concerned were under “pressure to hush up” the case.
 He said so far only 270 quintals of the fertilizer have been seized. “There is no information on the rest of the imported fertilizer,” the official said.  “The IFFCO authorities claim they have distributed it to the district godowns of its local distributing company, Apex Kashmir Cooperative Marketing Society, but the company does not exist in districts except for Srinagar and Nowgam.”
 Talking to Greater Kashmir another senior official said there were orders from authorities concerned to withdraw the consignment. “Powers for issuing such orders vest with fertilizer controller of India only under clause 23 (5) of the Act. The issuance of such orders seems a ploy to hush up the case,” he added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 3 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 3 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 4 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST