CPI(M) Ernakulam district secretary accuses state government, MPs of inaction over FACT crisis

Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) Ernakulam District Secretary S. Sathish on Wednesday accused the state government and Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden of failing to act on the financial crisis faced by Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT), India’s premier public sector fertilizer producer.

Mr. Sathish accused Congress MPs of maintaining a “criminal silence” on issues related to central public sector undertakings in his constituency. He said the MP had failed to put pressure on the central government to protect workers and central PSUs, citing the closure of Hindustan Insecticides Limited at Eloor and labor problems at Hindustan Machine Tools as examples.

“FACT, which produced more than 1.14 million tonnes of fertilizers and marketed more than 1.1 million tonnes during the last financial year, provides direct and indirect employment to more than 3,000 people. The company plays a key role in the country’s food security and fertilizer self-sufficiency. Pressuring the institution to decline due to the financial crisis,” said a CPI (leader of the CPI) in the country, which would have serious implications for both the state and the state.

He cited a sharp rise in the prices of key raw materials for phosphate fertilizers, including sulfur and phosphoric acid, as the trigger for the financial pressure on the company.

“The Union government should release the fertilizer subsidy on time and clear the pending dues immediately. The MPs and the state government, who should be pressurizing the Center to provide these funds, have remained mute spectators,” he said.

Mr. Sathish also urged the Center to give early approval and support to FACT’s ₹6,350 crore expansion projects, which have already been approved by the company’s board. He said the projects would increase production and income while creating significant employment opportunities.

MP’s answer

Responding to the allegations, Mr Eden said he had raised questions about FACT in Parliament during the previous session as well.

He quoted a question to Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister JP Nadda, in which he pointed out that the absence of a full-time chairman and managing director had an impact on the company, which was then making profits for the last four consecutive years.

He said he also asked the government about the steps taken to install the previously promised nanourea power plant. The minister said in his reply that he would look into the matter,” said the MP.

Published – 29 Jul 2026 22:57 IST