Woman Congress leader Madhusmita Acharya alleges fertiliser diversion in Jajpur, seeks vigilance probe .

Jajpur,19/09(PPT): AICC member and Congress leader Madhusmita Acharya has alleged large-scale irregularities in fertiliser distribution in Jajpur district and accused the State government and Odisha State Cooperative Marketing Federation (MARKFED) of failing to ensure that subsidised fertilisers reached farmers. Addressing a press conference at the district Congress office at Bijunagar in Kuakhia on Thursday, Ms. Acharya alleged that fertilisers meant for farmers had been diverted to a private trader and demanded a vigilance inquiry. She claimed that diammonium phosphate (DAP), urea and potash received through MARKFED from various companies between April and September were meant to be distributed to farmers at subsidised rates through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) and LAMPS, but were instead supplied to Abdul Khaliq Traders. The alleged diversion had forced farmers to purchase fertilisers from the open market at higher prices, she said. Ms. Acharya further alleged that fertilisers meant for other districts were also supplied to the private firm, claiming that against an allocation of 420 tonnes for the district, 578 tonnes were supplied to the firm. The Congress demanded a vigilance probe and warned of an agitation if an inquiry was not initiated. District Congress president Maguni Jena presided over the press conference, attended by Rasulpur block Congress president Mihir Mishra, Dharmasala block Congress president Sanjay Kumar Rout and other party leaders.