Illegal mining, delayed cane dues big issues in Ambala

AMBALA/YAMUNANAGAR: The delayed payments of sugarcane farmers and illegal mining have cropped up as big issues for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Ambala (reserved) constituency and are expected to play an important role on the voting day on May 12.
The Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Haryana) Gurnam Singh Charuni faction, which has taken a stand on farmers’ issues, made their intentions clear to oppose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for ignoring farmers’ problems and not fulfilling the promises made by the party leadership ahead of 2014 general elections.
BKU leaders said as per the standards the sugar mill management was supposed to release the payment within two weeks of the purchase of sugarcane but the farmers had been waiting for the past five months. They also expressed concern that the delayed payment would be paid without any interest.
BKU district president, Malkiat Singh Sahibpura said, “Sugarcane farmers of the region are waiting for payments of 2018-19 season from Naraingarh Sugar Mill worth nearly Rs 107 crore. Minister Nayab Saini, too, did not help farmers by providing timely payments. Now the sugar mill management, instead of clearing past dues, is trying to give cheques to the farmers for the year 2020.”
“The government has taken no clear stand and the BJP leadership worked hand-in-glove with the mill management. The farmers are also angry due to non payment of compensation which was promised after crop loss in October last year due to hailstorm. We will not support BJP and vote for a candidate having better chance to win the elections,” he added.
Meanwhile the mining mafia, responsible for exploiting natural resources from the rivers in the region including Markanda, Begna, Runh and Yamuna, has irked the residents of Ambala parliamentary constituency living in Ambala and Yamunanagar district. Although, the mining officials have claimed to file several cases with the district police departments, illegal mining has been going on unchecked especially in the areas of Naraingarh in Ambala district and Tajewala and Sadhaura in Yamunanagar district.
On Saturday, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia tweeted about an illegal makeshift passage constructed across the Yamuna river in Tajewala area of Yamunanagar district. He also posted some photos along with the tweet which said, “Before Lok Sabha elections a big conspiracy to stop waters to Delhi. In Haryana, 17 kilometers downstream Tajewala a bridge has been constructed to stop water in the Yamuna. Is Modi Ji preparing to keep Delhi public thirsty to win the election?”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Yamunanagar president, Rajesh Saini said, “Illegal mining has been going on unchecked in Yamunanagar and overloaded vehicles are plying day and night damaging the roads here. The Yamuna river in Tajewala area and Markanda in Sadhaura have been exploited and deep trenches have been left by the miners. With monsoon approaching, fear of floods is worrying the residents.”
“If we talk about sugarcane farmers, they are not happy with the state-advised price (SAP) as it should be somewhere close to Rs 400 per quintal. We are trying to make public aware of BJP government’s failures and receiving a positive response,” he added.
Dharamvir Dhindsa, a Congress leader in Naraingarh said, “In the last five years illegal mining has been carried out under political patronage in Naraingarh area. Overloaded vehicles with mined minerals are plying without any check. Gangsters have made their way into the area. Murders, robberies are being committed without any fear of law..”