Farmers Movement Archive

Tardy lifting: Arhtiyas, farmers block Karnal-Indri highway

Karnal, April 13Scores of farmers and arhtiyas of the Indri grain market blocked the Karnal-Indri state highway for more than one-and-a-half hours today in protest against the shortage of gunny bags, tardy lifting of wheat and non-issuance of gate passes due to the ban on procurement for 24 hours.The state government on Monday stopped the purchase of wheat in 18 purchase centres of the state for 24 hours due to glut in mandis. The Indri grain market was one of 18 mandis.In the morning, when farmers reached the grain market, they were not issued gate passes. Angry, they blocked the highway, causing inconvenience to commuters.Rampal Chahal, a BKU leader, said: “Who is to blame for glut in grain markets? Farmers? The blame lies with procurement agencies and transporters, who did not lift wheat on time. Banning procurement for 24 hours is no solution.”Manjeet Singh, another farmer, said the state government should increase the number of vehicles for speedy transportation.Satpal, president of an arhtiyas association in Indri, blamed procurement agencies and transporters for slow lifting of the produce. “Before procurement started, transporters had said 92 vehicles would be pressed into service to lift grains, but only 26 vehicles are doing the job. Besides, grains are lying in the open as gunny bags are in short supply.”Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Sumit Sihag assured protesters of deploying more vehicles to lift wheat and opening three additional purchase centres in the vicinity. He also assured them of arranging sufficient number of gunny bags by Wednesday afternoon. Subsequently, farmers and arhtiyas lifted the blockade.He said, “The government stopped procurement for 24 hours because of space crunch in mandis.”Procurement resumes in RadaurYamunanagar: Wheat was procured at the Radaur grain market today after market committee officials cleared space and allowed farmers to bring their produce. It was one of the 18 mandis where the state government had banned procurement for 24 hours in view of the glut in mandis, but timely action by officials helped farmers. TNS

The Tribune

2021-04-14