MP and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that efforts were being made to supply 1.35 lakh tonnes of urea to Karnataka in the next fortnight, even as he alleged ‘massive corruption’ in the supply of urea.
He also alleged that the State government had over supplied urea so far, which meant it had buffer stock.
“The farmers in Karnataka are not getting urea, and the crisis did not blow up quickly. Owing to copious rains, the sowing area of maize increased by one-and-a-half times, which was known to the Agriculture Department. Though the demand for urea starts from July and lasts till August, this year, the demand started from the third week of June. Because of rainfall, farmers are forced to use urea thrice instead of once, which is causing financial burden on farmers,” he said at a joint press conference of BJP MPs in Delhi.
There is a stock of 1.35 lakh tonnes in the State, which should be efficiently supplied to farmers, he added.
Blaming the department for failing to anticipate the demand, Mr. Bommai said that it should have kept enough buffer stock considering last year’s demand and supplied it to farmers.
