No check on exploitation of farmers, claims Congress

Our Correspondent

Abohar, October 25

Even as Congress state vice-president and Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar had slammed the state government over “unfair practices” during the purchase of paddy two weeks ago, on Tuesday, he alleged there had been no check on the “exploitation” of farmers.

He said farmers were being forced to pay Rs 100 as transportation charges to rice millers who were running their units beyond a 60-km distance from Abohar. The affected farmers had raised their voice during the visit of senior officers who inspected the grain markets to streamline the arrangements but to no avail. The unfair practice of cartage on each bag also goes unchecked.

Last year too, a similar situation prevailed. The Punjabi Mandi Board top brass had assured farmers and commission agents of taking up the issue with the Chief Minister and get transportation fee fixed for purchasers revised but nothing was done, he said.

He said the state government had promised single-window clearance to promote investments in new industries but none came forward to set up rice mills here due to rampant corruption and red-tapism, some had invested money on industries in neighbouring states.