Ministers Sridhar Babu and Tummala review urea supply with RFCL officials

The government has assured farmers that there will be no shortage of urea in the State, after a discussion with the officials of the Ramagundam Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited (RFCL), at the State Secretariat, on Saturday.

After the high-level review meeting, Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu urged farmers not to be misled by the opposition propaganda.

Mr. Tummala Nageswara Rao said that farmers need not worry as the government is in constant contact with the Central government on the issue. He said that 42,000 metric tonnes of urea is currently available, and another 6,543 metric tonnes of urea will arrive today, apart from 37,877 metric tonnes by the end of this month.

The CEO was informed that the State has not yet received 62,473 metric tons of urea quota from RFCL. He suggested that at least 50% of the urea should be sent to the State from the RFCL this week itself.

The Ministers asked RFCL CEO Alok Singhal about the reasons for disruptions in production and expressed dissatisfaction that the plant had functioned for only 40 days out of 145 days this season.

Reiterating that the State views RFCL not merely as a business entity but as a development partner in Telangana’s growth, the Ministers reviewed the action plan for immediate revival of production and provided further guidance.

They said that Telangana must not be treated on par with other States. Until production resumes at Ramagundam, they urged RFCL’s parent company, National Fertilisers Limited (NFL), to ensure that at least one rake of urea is supplied daily from its other plants to Telangana.

The Ministers assured that if RFCL faced any hurdles in this regard, the State government would take up the matter with the Centre for a resolution. They said that every possible step is being taken to safeguard the interests of farmers.

The review was attended by Special Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Agriculture Secretary Raghunandan Rao, RFCL Ramagundam Unit Head Rajeev, and other senior officials.