States alerted against fertiliser smuggling

NEW DELHI: Concerned over smuggling of fertilisers, the government has alerted border states and guarding authorities against illegal trade of key farm nutrients.

The Department of Fertilisers has written to chief secretaries of the states having international boundaries for initiating action against persons involved in smuggling of fertilisers with the help of central/state enforcement agencies.

Besides, authorities like Border Security Force (BSF), Coast Guards and Custom authorities have been alerted to keep strict vigil against illegal exports/smuggling of fertilisers, Minister of State for Fertilisers Srikant Kumar Jena said in reply to a question in Parliament last week.

There have been reports of smuggling fertilisers from India to neighbouring countries in last three years.