Why the Shamli-Ambala highway has upset Yamunanagar farmers
The ongoing construction work of the Shamli-Ambala highway — which passes through a number of villages including Potli in Yamunanagar — has left farmers of the region upset.
For decades, a road connected agricultural fields of Potli village. But, since construction began, agricultural land of many Potli farmers has been split into two — on either side of the under-construction stretch. Therefore, farmers have been calling for an underpass to facilitate movement between villages. They say they reached out to authorities of the local administration and the National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) several times, to no avail. Growers then resorted to staging a dharna, erecting a tent at the construction site in the village, to bring attention to the issue.
What is the issue?
A three-yard (about 16 foot) road has been in existence at Potli, as evident in the revenue record of the village, since 1952. The stretch has now been completely closed off by authorities, leaving no passage underneath the highway.
How has the road closure affected farmers?
Since many agricultural fields now lie on either side of the under-construction highway with no path connecting these, farmers have to travel an extra 3-4 km to commute between their fields.
How long has the protest been going on?
Farmers have been staging a dharna at the construction site for the last 26 days. Under the banner of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait group), growers staged a protest at the Yamunanagar District Secretariat on Wednesday. BKU Yamunanagar president Subhash Gurjar said the farmers’ agitation would continue until their demand was met as the road was key for farmers to reach their fields.
What does the administration say?
Farmers, led by BKU state president Ratan Mann and Gurjar, handed over a memorandum of their demands to Deputy Commissioner Parth Gupta on Wednesday. As per farmers, the DC told them that talks with NHAI officials were underway to solve the issue.
Haryana Tribune