Potshangbam farmers warn of NH bandh
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 20 2022: Farmers of Potshangbam Zila Parishad areas have warned of imposing NH 39 bandh from the intervening night of August 22 and 23 if the government fails to provide fertilisers by August 22 .

Addressing a press at Khonghampat Mantri Leikai on Saturday, Ch Joykumar, who is the president of Safe Environment & Pollution Control Committee (SEPCC), a conglomerate of different clubs of four villages, accused the agriculture department of lying to the public by claiming transparent and proper distribution of fertiliser to the farmers.

The committee filed an application to the agriculture director on July 4 requesting 100 bags of fertiliser for the farmers of the area.

In response, the director assured of despatching some of his department officials to assess the ground situation before sanctioning the fertiliser.

However, no initiatives have been taken up till date, he said.

Moreover, the Agriculture minister, during the recent assembly session, assured of proper distribution of fertiliser while claiming that the department has over 2 lakh bags of urea in stock, Joykumar recalled while demanding a whitepaper on the utilisation of the urea stock.

He also demanded the agriculture director to resign from his post if he cannot ensure timely provision of urea to the farmers.

Potshangbam ZP member and Imphal West ZP Up-Adhyak-sha Laishram Bobby said that she approached the department for providing urea to the farmers but not for her personal benefit.

Unfortunately, the agriculture department is trying to mislead the public by issuing statement attempting to link the appeal with politics.

Despite the repeated claims of the department of having adequate stock of urea, farmers are not getting their fair share of urea.

There are ample evidences that many farmers are left out from the distribution of urea by the local MLA and these left out farmers have their Aadhaar cards and land holding documents ready.

Unfortunately, the department is ignoring their plights, she said.

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