Reamal: Farmers blocked the NH 24 here Friday in a protest against the closure of the paddy mandi of Tarang cooperative society in this block of Deogarh district. They also locked the society’s office.
This year, the state government has fixed a target to procure 23,700 quintals of paddy from farmers at the Tarang mandi. But, the society has purchased only 11,300 quintals of paddy so far and the mandi has been closed prematurely, without procuring about 45 per cent of the stock.
The local administration’s action has infuriated the farmers. Even though the farmers had launched an agitation Thursday, none of the officers of the local administration had come to the spot till Friday for a discussion with the farmers.
A farmers’ outfit has warned the local administration that they will continue their agitation unless and until their demands are fulfilled. Till the last report came in, hundreds of vehicles were standing on either side of the NH due to the agitation.
PNN
