Punjab Farmers Protests And Blockades Has Cost Rs 4 Cr Loss To NHAI, Rs 200 Cr To Railways

The ongoing farmers' protests across various states against the three agricultural reform laws that were passed recently is showing no signs of slowing down.

The 30 farmers' organisations from several states that are leading the protests are set to intensify their stir with a call for country-wide road blockades on November 3 to protest.

Reuters

A decision for the nationwide ¡®chakka jam¡± next month was taken during a marathon meeting of farmers' outfits from various parts of the country.

Haryana, Punjab, now other states to follow?

Haryana BKU chief Gurnam Singh said while farmers' agitation is going on in Punjab and Haryana, ¡°it needs to be energised in other states so that the Union government is forced to withdraw these black laws".

¡°We have given a call for nationwide 'chakka jam' from 10 am to 4 pm on November 3 during which we will block various highways and other roads to protest against the new farm laws,¡± Singh said.

AFP

¡°The farmers, arhtiyas (commission agents) and labour organisations are protesting against these laws, but it has had little impact on the BJP government. This shows that power has gone into their heads and they are refusing to listen to the farmers who are the backbone of the country's economy,¡± he said.

'Time for farmers to unite'

He said the time has come for farmers and others associated with them to show their strength to the ¡°power-blinded¡± BJP government.

This is more bad news for the likes of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the Indian Railways and states like Haryana and Punjab which have taken a major hit due to the demonstrations.

AFP

In Punjab alone, at least 17 toll plazas have faced revenue loss of nearly Rs 4 crore in the last six days as the protesting farmers¡¯ organisations were not allowing toll plaza officials to collect toll fees.

Toll plaza blockades in Haryana has cost the NHAI another Rs 3.5 crore losses.

This is in addition to the rail roko protests by the farmers' groups, which has resulted in considerable disruption of services, both passenger and goods trains.

The Indian Express reported that the protests have already caused the Railways a revenue loss of Rs 200 crore.

AFP

On Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had appealed for relaxing their ongoing ¡®rail roko¡¯ agitation to allow movements of goods trains in the larger interest of the state.

Farmers have expressed apprehension that the Centre¡¯s farm reform laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the ¡°mercy¡± of big corporates.

President Ram Nath Kovind had given assent to the three contentious laws ¡ª the Farmers¡¯ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020; the Farmers¡¯ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.