Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], July 10 (HBTV): With the Kharif sowing season approaching, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai chaired a high-level review meeting at Mahanadi Bhawan on Tuesday to assess the availability and distribution of fertilisers and seeds across the state.

Addressing senior officials, the Chief Minister stressed the need to ensure uninterrupted and timely supply of fertilisers to farmers, noting that any disruption at this critical time could directly affect sowing schedules and agricultural output.

He specifically instructed the agriculture department to promote the use of NPK fertilisers as a viable alternative to DAP and to actively educate farmers about their benefits, according to the official release.

Sai directed district collectors to regularly monitor fertiliser availability and distribution through cooperative societies and to conduct continuous reviews to prevent any shortages.

‘This is a crucial period for the farming community,’ Sai said.‘Farmers must receive fertilisers at the right time and the right price, in adequate quantity,’ he added.

He stated that arrangements for NPK fertilisers are being made at cooperative societies and directed officials to take immediate steps to ensure their availability to farmers.

In a post on X, Chief Minister Sai highlighted that Chhattisgarh recorded an 18 percent GST growth rate this year—the highest in the country—which he attributed to effective governance.

‘Due to the efforts of the good governance government, Chhattisgarh's GST growth rate this year was 18%, which is the highest in the country. Today, a review of the Commercial Tax Department was conducted with the Finance and Commercial Tax (GST) Minister, Mr. O.P. Chaudhary, at Mahanadi Bhawan in the Ministry. During the meeting, detailed information was obtained about the department's activities and revenue collection so far. Discussions were held on effective strategies to increase tax collection, and instructions were given to the officials to take strict action against those evading GST. The meeting also included an in-depth discussion on identifying cases of tax evasion and measures to address them. Officials were directed to make concrete efforts to increase tax collection following the rules, ensuring transparency and strength in the state's revenue,’ he posted.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, Principal Secretary to CM Subodh Kumar Singh, Agriculture Production Commissioner Shahla Nigar, Secretary to CM Rahul Bhagat, Director of Agriculture Rahul Dev, and senior officials from MARKFED and related departments.

Chief Minister Sai also participated in the Yuva Sansad (mock Parliament) programme.

He stated that around 150 people from the region—then not yet a separate state—were imprisoned during the Emergency, including a member of his own family who was jailed under MISA.

He emphasised the importance of observing Samvidhan Hatya Divas so that future generations remember this dark period in India’s democratic history.

‘Nearly 150 people from Chhattisgarh, though the state wasn't formed back then, were put in jail during the Emergency... Many families were affected during this period, and mine was one of them, as one of my family members was a prisoner under MISA... The intent to observe Samvidhan Hatya Divas is that the upcoming generation never forgets this black day,’ he said.

(ANI)