Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will hold a massive dharna in front of Raj Bhavan on September 15, demanding immediate action on the fertiliser shortage.
At a press conference at Sankha Bhawan, BJD vice-president Sanjay Das Burma and Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik presented official data from the Supplies Department to refute the government’s repeated claim that fertiliser stocks are sufficient.
According to the BJD, there is a severe shortfall across districts, with huge supply gaps reported. For instance, Ganjam has an indent of 19,561 MT versus a supply of 10,640 MT, while Bhadrak has a demand of 6,188 MT versus a supply of 863 MT. Similarly, Balasore has a demand of 2,600 MT versus a supply of 900 MT, and Angul has a demand of 8,100 MT versus a supply of 4,954 MT.
BJD leaders claim that farmers are blocking highways across the state to protest the shortage, while the government continues to claim “no crisis.” The party has also highlighted that the Talcher Fertiliser Factory, promised to be operational within 36 months, remains non-functional even after 7 years.
The BJD has accused the government of callousness and the BJP of “false promises,” warning of state-wide block-level agitations if the issue persists.
