Vijayawada: Rajya Sabha Member Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose urged Union chemicals and fertilizers minister J.P. Nadda to urgently address the severe shortage of urea in Andhra Pradesh, especially during the peak Kharif season. In a letter sent on July 30, the MP pointed out that although the state was allocated 1.30 lakh metric tonnes of urea for July, many districts were still suffering from an acute shortage.Bose explained that the crisis had deepened due to limited fortnightly allotments, the closure of the National Fertilizers Corporation Limited (NFCL) unit in Kakinada, and the failure of the Ramagundam plant in Telangana to meet Andhra Pradesh’s needs. Farmers in districts like Srikakulam, Kurnool, and parts of Rayalaseema were reportedly facing long queues, restricted purchase limits, and deep distress, especially among small and marginal farmers.Subhas Chandra Bose also mentioned reports from civil society and local media, which revealed serious issues in distribution, such as delayed dispatches, poor staffing at retail outlets, and failure in last-mile delivery. Raids had exposed hoarding activities, with over Rs 10 crore worth of fertilizer seized recently.The MP requested the Union minister to take immediate steps, including expediting the remaining supply for July-August supply, reconsidering the closure of the Kakinada NFCL unit, deploying mobile vans in affected mandals and enhancing real-time stock monitoring. He said timely intervention was crucial to protect rural livelihoods and prevent damage to the current agricultural season.
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