Officials attached to the Department of Agriculture did a random inspection of fertilizer retail outlets across the district to verify the weight of fertilizer bags following ‘underweight complaints’.
After The Hindu carried a report based on the complaint from farmers that most of the fertilizer bags sold by retailers here were underweight, officials of Department of Agriculture, led by Joint Director K. Soundararajan, conducted the surprise checks.
“There is small variation in the weight and I have spoken to the officials concerned to rectify this problem,” said Mr. Soundararajan. Retailers from Alangulam, Tenkasi, Maanur and Sankarankovil said the “small variation” caused a huge loss to farmers and should be permanently stopped.
At a shop at Maanur, the “small variation” was between 44.50 kg and 46 kg, though information printed on the polythene bag said that it contained 50 kg of potash. None of the bags contained 50 kg fertilizer. Trader S. Mohamed Ali obtained from officials an acknowledgement that the bags were underweight.
The MDMK has decided to approach the court for a remedy.
The party’s Tuticorin district secretary S. Joel, who had earlier filed a case in the Madras High Court seeking its intervention has decided to approach the court again.
“Besides praying for automated fertilizer packing system, I’m going to pray for a CBI enquiry into the matter,” said Mr. Joel.
