Farmers angry as Panchayat Bhawan leased to trader

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 26

Farmers from the surrounding villages of the capital city are up in arms against Panchayat Bhawan and the local authorities for leasing the premises meant for Sunday Apni Mandi to an influential businessman for Diwali sale.

The farmers resented that even the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has no sites for the Sunday flea market for them to sell fresh seasonal vegetables and milk products.

Talking to The Tribune, the farmers said no one cared for the poor and small farmers. “Panchayat Bhawan has snatched our source of livelihood by leasing the premises to Goel Furniture as he is an influential businessman and we have no money to pay bribe”, charged the farmers.

Panchayat Bhawan was the only place where they sell vegetables and milk products to residents on every Sunday,” rued Nand Lal and Ramdass from Sadyana village.

As many as 50 farmers can sell vegetables to city residents in Apni Mandi on every Sunday. “The farmers from nearby villages used to come to sell vegetables here because Panchayat Bhawan is near the bus stand and is located in the heart of the capital and they find easy buyers, said Rajkumar. All pleas to the local authorities have fallen on deaf ears, the farmers resented.

The villagers had given water sources and land to the capital to accommodate the population. Sewerage and water lines passed through villages, but the local farmers were not even getting space for the Sunday mandis, resented Mohan Lal, a resident of a village near airport.

“The city administration and the SMC should create Sunday markets for nearby farmers in Dhalli, Sanjauli, Kusumpati, New Shimla, bus stand, Boileauganj and other places where they can sell their products to local residents,” said Satyavan Pundir, secretary of Nagrik Sabha.