The impact of the movement of farmers in Punjab is getting deeper. This is hampering the supply of fuel to essential commodities and power plants in the state . Railway officials said on Wednesday that more than 200 loaded freight trains were stuck in the area. At the same time, many power plants have reached the verge of closure due to coal shortage.
Farmers’ organizations in Punjab are opposing three recently passed agricultural laws from Parliament. For this, he has waged the rail roko movement for many days. Of the 200 goods trains, 79 are loaded with coal, 22 in fertilizer, three in cement, two in petroleum, oil and lubricants and 88 in iron, steel and other products. All passenger trains to Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir have been canceled since September 24 due to this protest by farmers. Whereas from October 1, it has had a profound impact on goods trains.
An official said that Punjab State Electricity Corporation Limited has expressed the possibility of the closure of some power plants as they are having low coal reserves. While the Goindwal Sahib power plant has already been shut down. Talwandi and Nabha thermal power plants also have three and six days’ worth of coal left, respectively.
Officials said that the freight trains of wheat and rice sent by the Food Corporation of India to other states were also closed. Due to this, there is a loss of loading of 25 food grains on a daily basis.
The rail roko movement is likely to continue right now as the Agriculture Ministry convened a meeting with farmers ‘organization leaders on Wednesday to end the farmers’ agitation. But due to no minister being present in the meeting, the farmers boycotted it. While, in the meeting of 30 farmers associations in Barnala on Saturday, no decision could be taken to end the agitation.
