400 fertiliser warehouses abandoned in Khulna
Sunday, 1 November 2009
KHULNA, Oct 29: More than 400 Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) fertiliser warehouses have been laid up in abandoned condition in several places of the country including Khulna region.
So, the BADC wealth worth about Tk 3.5 billion (350 crore) is on the verge of ruin, sources said.
According to BADC sources, the then Pakistan government had constructed over 400 fertiliser godowns in different parts of the country for smooth supply of fertiliser among the farmers with a capacity of 0.5 million tonnes, that had benefited farmers.
But in 1989, the government decided to distribute fertilisers through private management. As a result, BADC's 455 warehouses in the country lay idle.
A total of 65 warehouses with a capacity of 52,000 tonnes fertilisers were rented out, sources added.
Of them 20 warehouses were rented out to the food ministry, 37 to the BCIC and eight to the private distributors and rest godowns have been lying as an abounded condition.
Government property is on the verge of being destroyed due to the negligence of the concerned department. No measures were taken for maintenance these infrastructures.
The government would import 0.5 million tonnes of fertilisers and market those through BCIC.
The concerned persons are expected that repair and maintenance of the godowns would be made within short time.
So, the BADC wealth worth about Tk 3.5 billion (350 crore) is on the verge of ruin, sources said.
According to BADC sources, the then Pakistan government had constructed over 400 fertiliser godowns in different parts of the country for smooth supply of fertiliser among the farmers with a capacity of 0.5 million tonnes, that had benefited farmers.
But in 1989, the government decided to distribute fertilisers through private management. As a result, BADC's 455 warehouses in the country lay idle.
A total of 65 warehouses with a capacity of 52,000 tonnes fertilisers were rented out, sources added.
Of them 20 warehouses were rented out to the food ministry, 37 to the BCIC and eight to the private distributors and rest godowns have been lying as an abounded condition.
Government property is on the verge of being destroyed due to the negligence of the concerned department. No measures were taken for maintenance these infrastructures.
The government would import 0.5 million tonnes of fertilisers and market those through BCIC.
The concerned persons are expected that repair and maintenance of the godowns would be made within short time.