November 11: Shailung Group of Companies, that had failed to import 25,000 metric tons of urea within September 10, has also failed to bring an additional 30,000 metric tons of fertilisers in accordance to the second contract awarded by the government.  

The company was awarded the contract to import 30,000 metric tons of fertilisers on July 2 although it was struggling to fulfill its initial commitment. The latest contract to import fertilisers has expired on Sunday, November 8.

The company was awarded the contract of importing the fertilisers due to political pressure and has not been able to complete its task.

Netra Bhandari, managing director of Agriculture Inputs Company Limited, said that the contract agreement will be scrapped and the security amount will be seized. The government will also initiate legal proceedings against the company, informed Bhandari.

“Action will be taken as per the recommendation of specialists and legal experts,” he said. According to Bhandari, around Rs 50 million deposited by the company as security bond will also be seized.

Prior to this, the Agriculture Inputs Company Limited had seized more than Rs 90 million from the same company and had also recommended blacklisting Shailung Group when the company did not bring 25,000 metric tons of urea in time.

Now, the Agriculture Inputs Company and Salt Trading Corporation have announced a global tender to bring 435,000 metric tons of chemical fertilisers that includes 200,000 metric ton of urea, 100,000 metric tons of DAP and 10,000 metric tons of potassium. Among them, 10,000 metric tons of potassium has already been imported to Nepal and 20,000 metric tops of DAP is in the process of being imported.

Bishnu Pokharel, spokesperson of the company, informed that 30,000 metric tons of urea will be arriving from Kolkata within 15 days from now. Similarly, it has been learnt that the Salt Trading Corporation has already announced the tender for 80,000 metric tons of urea, 40,000 metric tons of DAP and 5,000 metric tons of potassium.