Chandigarh: An FIR has been registered against a Maharashtra-based company following the seizure of 140 quintals of illegal fertiliser in Bathinda, Punjab agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian confirmed on Thursday.
Seizure Amid Urea Shortage
The confiscation occurs during a period of urea fertiliser shortage and as paddy sowing is in full swing across the state. Illicit fertiliser is frequently blamed for damaging crops and causing significant financial losses over large swathes of farmland.
Details of the FIR
Khudian stated that the FIR against Kay Bee Bio-Organics Pvt Ltd was filed for violations of the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO), 1985, and the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Two individuals, Ravi Kumar of Uttar Pradesh and Sable Ashant Hanumant of Maharashtra, have been named in the FIR.
How the Seizure Happened
The agriculture department received a tip-off about illegal fertiliser stored at a warehouse in Ganpati Complex, Malout Road, Bathinda. A raid team discovered that the stored fertilisers did not meet the specifications prescribed under the Fertiliser Control Order.
The company lacked a valid fertiliser licence from the state agriculture department and was selling agricultural inputs from premises licensed only for pesticide business. This contravenes clauses 7 and 8 of the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985, and sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, Khudian explained.
Potential Impact
The minister warned that the illegal fertilisers could have devastated thousands of acres and severely harmed farmers' financial interests. The department continues to monitor the situation to prevent further distribution of illicit agricultural inputs.
