Fertiliser shortage row: 62 bags seized in Ganjam raid amid black marketing allegations

Amid allegations of fertiliser shortages and black marketing across Odisha, enforcement officials seized as many as 62 bags of fertiliser during a raid at Khallikote area in Ganjam district on Saturday.

Acting on allegations of illegal hoarding, an enforcement team led by Khallikote Tehsildar reportedly raided the residence of a private fertiliser dealer at Keshpur Square.

During the operation, various types of fertilisers were seized, and the godown was sealed. Sources suggest that the dealer had procured excess stock from a society and stored it illegally for black market sales.

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Khallikote Tehsildar warned that strict action will be taken against anyone found engaging in fertiliser black marketing.

Notably, the ongoing alleged shortage of urea fertiliser in Odisha has triggered a sharp political exchange, with BJD chief and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Naveen Patnaik urging the Centre to intervene immediately, calling the situation a “crisis.”

However, Odisha Food Suppliers Minister Krushna Chandra Patra rejected the allegations, claiming there is no shortage of fertiliser in Odisha. The Minister stated that wherever supply issues arose, they were due to local distribution gaps and not the overall availability of urea.