The subsidy payments to the tune of about Rs 11,100 crore for imported urea and phosphatic and potassic fertilisers are pending due to shortfall in budget provisions, Parliament was informed today.
In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Jena said: "Due to shortfall in availability of the budget provision, payments for imported urea and subsidy for imported P&K fertilisers have been temporarily delayed".
Jena further said that a part of the total outstanding claims of about Rs 11,100 crore for imported fertilisers is expected to be met out of the additional budget allocation for the year 2011-12 and the balance would be settled in the next fiscal.
On the issue of fertilisers availability for the upcoming kharif season starting June, Jena said that there is no shortage.
"Government has taken necessary steps to ensure adequate availability of fertilisers in the ensuing kharif season and there is no likelihood of shortage of fertilisers resulting in food inflation," he added.
