Farmers protest against three agricultural laws passed by the center (File)
New Delhi:
The railways suffered a loss of Rs 1,670 crore in freight revenue alone due to the farmer unrest in Punjab which has continued for over 50 days now, resulting in the cancellation of 1986 passenger services and 3,090 freight trains to the area, sources said on Monday.
Rail services remained suspended in the state, with railways rejecting a proposal by protesters to resume only freight trains. The national carrier suffers an estimated daily loss of Rs 36 crore in freight revenue due to the suspension of services, sources said.
From October 1 to November 15, the railways freight load suffered losses due to train cancellations and many trains carrying essential items for Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir got stuck just in the exterior of Punjab.
No less than 520 coal rakes could not be delivered to the five power plants in Punjab, resulting in a loss of Rs 550 crore for the railways, they said.
Other canceled freight trains include 110 steel rakes (resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 120 crore), 170 cement rakes (loss of Rs 100 crore), 90 clinker rakes (loss of Rs 35 crore), 1,150 rakes of food grains (loss of Rs 550 crore), 270 rakes of fertilizer (loss of Rs 140 crore) and 110 rakes containing petroleum, oil and lubricants (loss of Rs 40 crore), they said.
Around 600 containers with various types of goods destined for the region were also canceled, resulting in a loss of around Rs 120 crore and the suspension of 70 additional rakes of goods resulted in a loss of Rs 15 crore.
“While 3,090 freight trains have been canceled so far, losses are around Rs 1,670 crore on cargo loading alone. We have also canceled, interrupted and diverted 1,986 passenger trains so far “said a source at the Ministry of Railways.
Freight trains have not entered Punjab for a month and a half now, except for two days at the end of October, which has resulted in a shortage of essential goods, including fertilizers for planting wheat and supplies of wheat. coal for thermal power stations.
Restless farmers say they left the tracks, but some protesters continued to occupy a few stations.
The railways argued that for the resumption of services they needed the state government’s 100% guarantee that no trains would be disrupted and that passenger and freight trains would be allowed to run.
Farmers, however, said that if they would allow freight trains, they would not accept any guarantees for passenger trains.
Farmers are protesting against three agricultural laws recently passed by the central government.
Train services in the state have been suspended since September 24 when peasant organizations staged protests on tracks and stations against farm laws.
The three agricultural laws – the Agricultural Trade and Trade (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Agreement on Agricultural Price Insurance and Services (Enabling and Protection) of Farmers Act 2020, and the Act of 2020 on essential products (amendment) – were recently adopted. .
Farmers’ organizations protesting against the laws expressed fear that the laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the “mercy” of big business. They are asking that the laws be withdrawn.
The Center said the new laws will benefit farmers and increase their income.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
