In Ropar, farmers block highway over pest attack

Tribune News Service

Ropar, September 11

Demanding immediate girdawari to assess losses caused by a pest attack on maize crop, a large number of farmers staged a dharna, blocking the Ropar-Anandpur Sahib highway here today.

While the district administration has already started girdawari, the farmers claimed there was undue delay. Even yesterday, Ropar DC Sonali Giri, in a press release, had assured the farmers of completing girdawari by Monday. The delay was due to a strike by patwaris, she had claimed. Over 21,000 hectares is under maize crop in the district and a majority of it has been damaged due to the fall armyworm attack.

According to a survey conducted by Agriculture Department officials last month, between 50 per cent and 100 per cent maize crop had been damaged over 4,500 acres in Nurpur Bedi block alone. Apprehending further delay in completing girdawari, a large number of farmers staged a dharna on the highway at Bunga Sahib around 9.30 am.

Farmer leaders, including Kirti Kisan Morcha’s Nurpur Bedi block president Veer Singh, BKU leader Rupinder Singh and Jamhoori Kisan Sabha’s Gurnail Singh, in their address said they would continue their dharna for the next 48 hours if the administration didn’t relent.

The protest ended around 1.30 pm after Anandpur Sahib SDM Keshav Goyal assured the farmers of completing girdawari within a couple of days.