Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
India

Paddy growers face hardships owing to strike by rice millers: Punjab Congress chief

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Oct, 2023 01:11 PM
  • Paddy growers face hardships owing to strike by rice millers: Punjab Congress chief

Chandigarh, Oct 18 (IANS) Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday took tour in Patiala district to get first-hand information about the problems faced by paddy growers in the wake of the strike by rice millers across the state.

The farmers lamented about the deterioration of the harvested paddy crop due to the strike.

“The farmers of Punjab have already endured substantial hardships, including the recent floods that afflicted the region. After three-long months, they continue to grapple with adversities,” said Warring.

Assessing the situation at a marketing yard, he said, “Contrary to the claims made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government that paddy procurement is on track, the ground reality is starkly different. The purported progress on paper doesn’t align with the stark reality of paddy crops decaying in mandis.”

The strike by rice millers, protesting against Food Corporation of India (FCI) guidelines, has resulted in approximately 66 per cent of paddy stocks remaining uncollected across the state.

As of October 15, a mere 7.83 lakh tonnes of paddy have been lifted. With the ongoing harvest across the state, a peak in production is expected within a week, further exacerbating the space shortage in mandis for paddy storage.

Addressing the media, Warring said the prevailing situation has left everyone, from the farmers awaiting procurement to the middlemen anticipating the cessation of the strike, in a state of distress.

“The entire state is trapped in this vicious cycle, with the government seemingly focused on unrelated issues. This process typically takes just a month. With the festive season coming up, this predicament will result in the incapacity to celebrate significant festivals like Diwali, given our state’s strong dependence on agriculture for its economy.”

He proposed to the government that until the strike “concludes, why doesn't the government take the initiative to procure the produce and store it in government warehouses? Once the protests subside, the government can then allocate the produce to the rice millers, facilitating the completion of the harvesting process.”

MORE India ARTICLES

Delhi Police bust inter-state gang involved in stealing luxury cars; 2 held

Delhi Police bust inter-state gang involved in stealing luxury cars; 2 held
The accused were identified as Mohd. Danish (33) and Danish alias Raja (30), both residents of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh. Police have also recovered five high end luxury cars and SUVs from the possession of the accused.

Delhi Police bust inter-state gang involved in stealing luxury cars; 2 held

Punjab tourists ransack shops, houses in Himachal's Manikaran

Punjab tourists ransack shops, houses in Himachal's Manikaran
The cause of the provocation is yet to be ascertained, an official told IANS, adding the situation is under control. Videos of the ruckus were viral on the social media. Many parked vehicles and a nearby police station was pelted on with stones.

Punjab tourists ransack shops, houses in Himachal's Manikaran

Delhi court sends Sisodia to judicial custody till March 20

Delhi court sends Sisodia to judicial custody till March 20
The court had, on March 4, extended Sisodia's CBI custody for two days and listed his bail plea for March 10 and in the last two days, the CBI questioned him with key witnesses -- former excise commissioner Arva Gopi Krishna and former excise department secretary C. Arvind -- in this case, who recorded their statements in front of a magistrate. 

Delhi court sends Sisodia to judicial custody till March 20

Jaipur bank robbed in broad daylight, perpetrators flee with Rs 10 lakh

Jaipur bank robbed in broad daylight, perpetrators flee with Rs 10 lakh
A police official said that the two men, wearing masks, entered the bank branch at around 9.45 a.m. when only three employees were present there, and threatened the staff with a pistol. They forced the staff to open the vault where Rs 10 lakh was kept and fled with the money by 10.30 am.

Jaipur bank robbed in broad daylight, perpetrators flee with Rs 10 lakh

Punjab gears up to host two G-20 sessions in Amritsar

Punjab gears up to host two G-20 sessions in Amritsar
The Chief Minister, who reviewed the arrangements for the mega event here, said Punjab is fully ready to host the sessions and asked the officers to ensure foolproof arrangements for the working sessions slated to take place at the holy city of Amritsar next week.

Punjab gears up to host two G-20 sessions in Amritsar

7 arrested, sex racket busted in Noida; 2 girls rescued

7 arrested, sex racket busted in Noida; 2 girls rescued
The arrested customers have been identified as Anil, Rajan, Sagir, Abhishek and Harish. The house belongs to one Neeraj Bhati. Police recovered six mobile phones, Rs 2,100 in cash and objectionable items from their possession.

7 arrested, sex racket busted in Noida; 2 girls rescued