HYDERABAD, Feb 2: EDO (agriculture) Shahabuddin Siddiqui, taking notice of hoarding and black-marketing of fertilizer in Hyderabad district, has directed the fertilizer dealers to submit details of their stock to his department on daily basis, failing which legal action would be taken against them.

He directed the fertilizer inspectors to curb hoarding and black-marketing and monitor availability of fertilizers in the market.

He also directed them to check stock registers of dealers and ensure that price lists were displayed at prominent place at fertilizer shops.

The EDO issued the directives at a meeting held on Thursday to review availability of fertilizer in the market. The meeting was attended by growers, fertilizer dealers and officials of agriculture department. It discussed problems and losses being faced by the growers due to an artificial shortage of fertilizer.

Speaking at the meeting, the EDO said that the prime minister had announced a fertilizer package under which subsidy of Rs250 per bag was offered to growers but due to artificial shortage and black-marketing in some parts of the district, the growers were not being benefited accordingly.

The EDO said that such meetings would be held every month to review availability of fertilizers in the market.