Let containers move, traders urge farmers

Fatehgarh Sahib, January 10

The North India Importers’ Association has appealed to the protesters and all farmer unions of the state to lift their blockade and sit-in in front of Adani Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kila Raipur near Ludhiana, and allow the movement of thousands of containers.

Association’s state president Ishu Bansal said the exporters, MSME and common traders were suffering huge losses due to the blockade as they had to pay ICD ground rent charges on a daily basis. Requesting farmers to view the situation considerately, he said if the blockade was not lifted immediately, importers, traders and MSMEs will become bankrupt as they had to pay Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per container per day as rent.

He said traders of the state supported the farmers in their cause, but they should not be made to suffer. He urged Shipping Line Companies and ICD not to charge any extra detention and ground rent on containers which are blocked due to the protest. He also appealed to the government and everyone to save the traders and importers of the state from this crisis and to prevail upon the farmers to lift the blockade for the movement of containers. — OC