SATISH HANDA
In a letter to Prime Minister Narender Modi with copies to Chief Ministers Haryana and Delhi, Narender Chhikara Senior Vice President Chamber of Commerce & Industry Association has demanded immediate government action to get vacated Tikri Border where large numbers of farmers groups are sitting on protest since past over seven months adversely affecting industry in the state. due to farmers agitation against three agriculture laws introduced by the government. He said, moreover there was slump all over in the state due to COVID-19 epidemic outbreak when government had declared lock down in the state and industry suffered a lot in this period. Chhikara said, not only industry at Bahadurgarh suffered financial loss worth Rs 20000 crore but also out of total number of over 9000 industrial units in the area more than 2000 micro, small, medium industrial units became sick and closed down.
Industry owners at Badadurgarh said that it takes nearly two hours instead of five minutes while passing through the border blocked by agitators and also sealed by the Delhi police, besides industry entrepreneurs are facing lot of inconvenience to bring raw material and send finished goods to customers. Chhikara said, out of total number of manufacturing units in the area about 2000 units has already been closed and the remaining units are working between 25 to 40% of their production capacity.
The residents of surrounding area as well as industry owners told that protesting farmers usually block the road for hours especially when some VIP passes through the road raising anti-government slogans and police watching everything helplessly. The residents of adjoining rural areas told that it is unsafe for females to come out of their houses since large number of anti-social elements are seen moving all around in the area.
Meanwhile, on the instruction of Chief Minister Haryana Manohar Lal Khatter, Chief Secretary Vijay Vardhan has directed deputy commissioners not to leave station for any personal or government work without taking permission from Divisional Commissioner of area.
