Farmers stage protest in Y’nagar, demand underpass on highway

Farmers under the banner of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) today staged a demonstration in Potli village of Yamunanagar district, pressing for the construction of an underpass on the Shamli-Ambala highway near the village. The protest, which has been continuing for the past week, saw farmers camping under a tent on the under-construction highway.

Radaur SDM Narender Singh visited the BKU district office in Dhaurang village and held discussions with BKU district president Subhash Gurjar over the issue. Gurjar said, “The SDM told us that officers of the National HighwayS Authority are ready to sit with farmers to talk about the issue of underpass.”

He said the SDM also took up related matters, including curbing stubble burning and repairing the Yamunanagar-Radaur-Ladwa road.

According to records, a three-yard-wide (around 16-foot) road has existed in Potli village since 1952. Farmers said this traditional path connecting large stretches of agricultural land has been completely blocked by the highway construction, as no underpass or crossing has been provided.

Questioning the authorities, Gurjar said, “How would the farmers, whose land is on the other side of the highway, reach their agricultural fields? This old road was mainly used by Potli farmers to access their fields.”