Farmers, arhtiyas protest gunny bag crisis in Sirhind town

Our Correspondent

Fatehgarh Sahib, April 19

Hundreds of farmers and commission agents on Monday blocked the national highway at Sirhind town in protest against the non-availability of gunny bags (bardana) with state procurement agencies, which has affected wheat procurement.

The protesters raised slogans against the state government and disrupted traffic, leading to a massive jam on GT Road. Administrative officials and the police reached the site and tried to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade, but they refused and said the dharna would continue till gunny bags were not made available with the procurement agencies.

Sadhu Ram Bharmajra, president of the Arhtiya Association, said since the procurement of wheat had started, there was an acute shortage of gunny bags.

He said although the state government had allowed the use of old gunny bags, commission agents had been asked to purchase them on their own and the amount would be reimbursed later.

Bharmajra said the commission agents had refused to buy the gunny bags from their own pockets. They get Rs 46 per quintal as commission, whereas gunny bags would cost Rs 96 per quintal. Moreover, they were not sure whether they would get commission due to direct payment to farmers.

He said earlier, the protests were held at Khamano, Sanghol, Bassi Pathana, Amloh and other procurement centres and the gunny bags were supplied there. Meanwhile, Opposition leaders are ridiculing the claims of the government and the district administration that the procurement of wheat is going on smoothly and there is no shortage of gunny bags.

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