Potholed road, garbage piles near grain market add to farmers’ woes

Farmers are facing mounting challenges as delays in paddy lifting are compounded by poor infrastructure around the grain market. The primary issues stem from the deteriorating condition of the road, leading to the mandi and the accumulation of garbage near its entrance, turning the area into an unsanitary zone.

The road leading to the mandi has become a major source of frustration for farmers. They said the road is riddled with potholes, causing frequent damage to their vehicles. “Our tractor-trolleys often break down because of the poor road conditions,” said Gurpal Singh, a local farmer. He said farmers had raised this issue during the wheat procurement season in April, but no repairs had been carried out.

In addition to the road problems, garbage piles near the mandi’s entrance are creating serious sanitation concerns. Daljit Singh, another farmer, expressed disappointment with the local authorities for not addressing the issue sooner.

“The Municipal Corporation should have prioritised fixing the road and removing the garbage, knowing the procurement season was about to begin,” he said. The foul smell from the dump is making it difficult for farmers who are staying overnight at the mandi to protect their produce.

Despite these challenges, the mandi itself remains functional, but the road conditions and sanitation issues are making access difficult and unpleasant. Farmers at Nakodar and Adampur also raised concerns about the lack of basic amenities such as clean drinking water and proper toilet facilities at the mandis there.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal said he had already addressed these issues. He said during his visit to the mandi, he instructed officials to resolve all problems related to the grain markets across the district.

Aggarwal emphasised that ahead of the procurement season, he had directed the authorities to ensure that all necessary arrangements were in placem including clean drinking water, floodlights, sufficient gunny bags and proper sanitation facilities. Regarding the road and garbage issues, he assured them that he would instruct the Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Mandi Board officers to take immediate action.