Procurement delayed, farmers on warpath

Gurminder Singh Grewal

Khamano April 19

A number of farmers of the area, led by BKU (Rajewal) district president Kashmira Singh Jatana today blocked traffic on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road in Khamano. They were protesting non-purchase of wheat by the state procurement agencies. The protesters raised slogans against the state government and the purchase agencies.

The traffic on the stretch went for a toss for several hours, giving commuters a tough time. Jatana alleged the state government and the purchase agencies were not taking any action and the farmers were forced to sit in grain markets without any fault.

The BKU leaders declared that they would gherao the local MLA on April 22 if the procurement was not started immediately. They lifted the dharna only after the officials assured them of early action on the matter.

Farmers to block highways in Faridkot today

Faridkot: Farmers in the district have threatened to block all state and national highways in Faridkot area tomorrow to protest non-procurement of wheat.

Farmers have been staying put in grain markets for the past over 10 days, but the agencies have not yet started procuring wheat. We are thus left with no option but to block roads to register our protest," said Gamdoor Singh Sangrhahoor, vice-president, BKU (Rajewal).

Faridkot deputy commissioner officially inaugurated the wheat procurement process yesterday, but in the last 36 hours, only 500 quintals of wheat has been purchased from 71 yards (four principal yards and 67 rural yards). Agency officials claim since dampness and discolouration of the wheat arrived in the mandis is between 15 per cent and 20 per cent, they are unable to procure the produce. The farmers, however, blame the authorities for their insensitivity towards their problems.

In Sadiq, farmers and commission agents were annoyed with the DC for not providing them gunny bags. Starting the procurement without providing gunny bags to farmers made no sense.