Truck with 300 bags of subsidised urea seized in Yamunanagar

A team of the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has seized a truck loaded with nearly 300 bags of subsidised agriculture-grade urea near Mehlanwali village in Yamunanagar district. The consignment was allegedly diverted from a Co-operative Society in Kurukshetra district.

Officials said the urea was suspected to be headed to a plywood factory, where such subsidised fertiliser is illegally used to manufacture industrial glue — despite the fact that agriculture-grade urea is strictly meant for farming use and cannot be used for industrial purposes.

Dr Aditya Pratap Dabas, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Yamunanagar, said the interception was made based on specific information received on the evening of November 21. “Our team acted promptly and stopped the vehicle near Mehlanwali. It was found carrying around 300 bags of urea sourced from a co-operative society near Ladwa in Kurukshetra,” he said.

He added that the diversion appeared to be carried out in connivance with urea smugglers. “The involvement of the society’s incharge in illegally transporting subsidised urea has come to light. Strict action will follow after the investigation,” Dr Dabas said.

The team, led by Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer (Jagadhri) Ajay Kumar, took possession of the vehicle. The driver fled the spot before officials could detain him. Samples from the seized bags have been sent to the laboratory for testing.

According to sources, several plywood factory owners in the region allegedly use cheaper, subsidised agriculture-grade urea to prepare adhesive, avoiding the significantly higher cost of technical-grade urea.

Based on a complaint filed by Ajay Kumar, police have registered a case against unidentified persons under Sections 7, 3, and 10 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955; Sections 5, 28, 25, and 7 of the Fertilizer (Control Order) 1985; and Sections 318(4) and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 at Sadar police station, Jagadhri, on November 22.