623 fertilizer vendors’ licences suspended in UP, India

The state government has suspended the licences of at least 623 fertilizer vendors and lodged FIRs against 35 on charges of black marketing and hoarding.

The action was taken as part of a drive conducted on August 19 and 20.

Additional chief secretary, agriculture, Devesh Chaturvedi on Sunday said action was taken to check black marketing and to

ensure that farmers get fertilizers at reasonable price.

The drive covered 9,747 fertilizer shops during which officials took 3,287 samples. The department issued show cause notices

to 517 vendors.

“The department cancelled the licence of 22 sellers and sealed 17 shops. Warnings have been issued to 666 vendors,”

Chaturvedi said.

“On August 20, the department took as many as 653 samples of fertilizers from 3,119 places. During the drive, the government

sought explanation from 247 sellers and suspended licences of 158 shops. As many as six shops were sealed by the

department. On the same day, licences of 15 shops were also cancelled,” he added.

Chaturvedi said on August 19, the department conducted surprise inspection at 3,109 shops and collected 1,059 samples.

The same day, the government issued show cause notices to 270 vendors and suspended licences of 228 shops.

On confirmation of complaints of black marketing, sale from 12 shops was prohibited and six shops were sealed.On July 22, the

government also conducted a drive covering 3,519 shops to check black marketing of fertilizers. During the drive, the

department collected 1,575 samples and suspended licences of 237 vendors. The government also cancelled the licence of

seven shops. Warnings were to 421 vendors and sale of fertilizers was banned at eight shops. Five shops were sealed and an

FIR was lodged against a person.

“There is no shortage of fertilizers in the state. Instead, the state has 20% more fertilizer than it had last year,” Chaturvedi said,

adding that the state government distributed 30% more fertilizer than last year.