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Minister opposes privatisation of NFL

After the divestment of Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum was postponed earlier this month, Fertiliser Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, on Monday, came out openly against privatisation of National Fertilisers Ltd saying the profit-making company is strategic for maintaining price stability in the farm sector.

"Public sector enterprises like NFL should not be privatised. NFL is not only making huge profits but occupies a strategic position for its contribution in the fertiliser industry which is so crucial to agriculture", Dhindsa told reporters in New Delhi.

He said the 29-year old NFL should remain in the public sector to meet possible price fluctuations in future and to ensure timely availability of agro-nutrients to the farmers in sufficient quantities at reasonable prices.

Now, a major hurdle in NFL's divestment appears to be the delay in the formulation of the much-awaited long-term fertiliser policy, which is yet to see the light of the day despite the promise given about two years ago by the government to announce it soon.

Sources said prospective bidders are expected to examine the impact of the long-term policy while making detailed assessment of the company.

Dhindsa said government's long-term fertiliser policy, being worked out by a Group of Ministers, is likely to be finalised very soon but "my views against NFL privatization remain unchanged".

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