Haryana farmers protest against 'non-availability' of urea

CHANDIGARH: Farmers in Haryana staged protests at many places over " non-availability" of urea fertiliser in state-run retail shops, with many of them resorting to road and rail blockades.

A large number of farmers put up a blockade near Narwana railway station in Jind district yesterday for over three hours delaying at least three trains on the Delhi-Ludhiana route.

Many farmers sat on the railway tracks and raised slogans against the government for allegedly failing to make urea available.

They alleged that urea was being diverted to black market by some dealers and demanded adequate supply of fertiliser from the administration for wheat cultivation.

The farmers also held protest over urea "shortage" by blocking the Chandigarh-Hisar National Highway in Kalayat in Kaithal district for some time.

Many farmers alleged that urea was unavailable at the state-run retail shops while private traders were minting money by selling the fertiliser at exorbitant prices.

The farmers also held protests over urea shortage in Hisar and Fatehabad districts.

Significantly, wheat growers in the region have resorted to "panic buying" of fertiliser in anticipation of its severe shortage that could affect prospects of bumper winter crop.

Hisar MP and INLD leader Dushyant Chautala alleged that "black marketers were benefiting from the situation while farmers were at the receiving end".

"The Government must take immediate steps to help the farmers, who are already facing multiple problems..," he demanded.

Yesterday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said that there would be no shortage of urea in the state, saying "the farmers need not worry as government is quite concerned in this direction and necessary instant steps are being taken to ensure timely supply of fertilisers to the farmers".