Remuna: Amid allegation of irregularities in paddy procurement, over 200 farmers along with cartloads of paddy from Kuligan, Barunsigh and Sheragad panchayats under Remuna block of Balasore district blocked the NH-16 Friday, disrupting traffic from 9 am till 1 pm.
Farmers alleged that 716 farmers were registered with Barunsingh Cooperative Society for paddy procurement. About 11,582 quintals of paddy was procured from 317 farmers while the society is yet to procure 42,000 quintals.
Alleging a mess in procurement, farmers had intimated the issue to the Collector February 18 and had warned of blocking the NH-16 March 8.
However, the administration failed to meet the demands of the farmers.
Police rushed to the agitation site. SDPO Prabhas Chandra Pal, Khantapada IIC Sriballabh Sahu, Sadar IIC Mamata Sahu, Silpanchal IIC Jayant Behera, Chandipur IIC Minati Biswal, Shergad outpost in-charge Abhimanyu Das, Balasore civil supplies officer Rabindra Prusty, ASO Ajay Mallick and Remuna MI Sabyasachi Bastia tried to convince the agitating farmers.
They assured the farmers that 1,500 quintals of paddy will be procured immediately and procurement will go on till stocks last with farmers. Following these assurances, the farmers relented.
PNN