LAHORE, Sept 27: Punjab Agriculture Minister Malik Ahmad Ali Aulakh on Saturday said those involved in hoarding, adulteration and overcharging of fertiliser would not be spared at any cost.

Presiding over a meeting regarding fertiliser availability in the province, he said so far 356 raids had been conducted against them during which 324 FIRs were filed and 113 people arrested. He said the value of confiscated adulterated fertiliser was estimated over Rs154 million.

The minister said during 211 raids against adulterators, 194 FIRs were registered, effecting on-the-spot arrests of 181 people. Similarly, 145 raids were conducted against those involved in overcharging of fertiliser during which 130 FIRs were registered and 32 people arrested.

Aulakh said in order to bridge the demand and supply gap, 0.5 million ton urea had been imported out of which 22,000 ton had reached the market. He said another consignment of 25,000 ton had also been received while the remaining was expected shortly.

The minister said 33 check posts had been established for checking smuggling of fertiliser in nine bordering districts of the province where agriculture and police officials were performing duties round the clock in shifts.

He asked the operations DIG, who was present in the meeting, to evolve an effective monitoring mechanism for checking the working of these posts.

He asked the DIG to ensure that a police contingent was made available during raids and distribution of fertiliser.

The minister asked the agriculture director-general to convey clear instructions to field officers for improving their working.

Aulakh said he would personally pay field visits and if any department official was found involved in some irregularity he would face stern action.

The minister asked the fertiliser companies representatives to cancel dealership of all such dealers who were found involved in adulteration, hoarding, overcharging or some other irregularity.

MPAs, farmers, fertiliser manufacturers and sellers, agriculture department officers and others put forward their suggestions on the fertiliser issue.