BLACK MARKETING CHARGES AGAINST COLD STORAGE OF DHUPGURI

By Supriyo Basak (TNI Dhupguri) ~ Edited By D. Prasun (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Dhupguri, 8^th March, 2016: In Dhupguri today farmers agitated protesting against the alleged black marketing of potato bonds for stocking potatoes in cold storage. The incident happened at the outskirts of Dhupguri town in an area called Thakurpaat. Local farmers alleged that the management of “Uttarayan Cold Storage” has joined hands with big potato businessmen and have started Black marketing the potato bonds. It is said that on 5th March the Cold Storage started distributing the bonds. After the holiday of Sunday then on Monday the management declared that no bonds are available and stopped distributing the bonds. Hearing this agitated farmers started agitating in front of the gate. A huge police force reached the spot. According to the farmers if the cold storage doesn’t let the farmers stock the potato seeds then they would fall in great problem next year. On the other hand the cold storage manager Mr. Niranjan Bagchi said that the cold storage has a capacity to keep 140000 packets. Already 110000 potato bonds were distributed. All the bonds were given on the basis of voter card verification. He denied any charges of black marketing. The local Agricultural development Office has assured of investigation. On the other hand the Block Agricultural Officer said that this year the production is less compared to the previous years.