Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune news service
Chandigarh, November 6
Train services to Punjab are unlikely to resume anytime soon, and the Center strives to resume train services only if passenger trains are also allowed safe passage through Punjab, alongside freight services trains. .
However, the farmers’ unions have only agreed to let freight trains pass, as the dharnas on the tracks: two from the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) were lifted and one from the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee was moved off the main tracks. from the train to Jandiala.
Until the afternoon, when representatives of the state government closed the deal with the two mentioned organizations, it was believed that the dharna would be lifted soon, leading to the resumption of freight train services to the state.
This would have ensured that power production at the two private thermal plants in Rajpura and Banawali in Mansa would also start.
However, as negotiations between the Chairman of the Railway Board and the Punjab chief secretary continued, the former made it clear that it would only be possible to resume services if the movement of all train categories was allowed.
A meeting was also held today between the DGP Law and Order, Ishwar Singh and senior commanders of the Railway Police of the Ambala and Ferozepur divisions, where the latter reiterated that it was only after the state government assured access for the passage of the passenger trains, the train services would resume.
Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan told The Tribune that the state government was in contact with the Chairman of the Railroad Board and that they were trying to find an early resolution.
After three days of negotiations with the two unions, the state government managed to convince the unions to lift the railway blockades.
Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), told The Tribune that they had lifted their dharnas from the train tracks connecting the main railway lines with the private thermal plants in Rajpura and Banawali (Mansa) at 4pm. from today.
“The farmers, however, will not stop their agitation … they will simply switch it from the tracks to the sides of the railroad tracks,” he said.
The two power plants have not been supplying power to the state for the past 20 days. Venu Prasad, Managing Director of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited, said that the two power plants had not been able to generate power and the question of giving them fixed charges for this period is under consideration, in accordance with the terms of their agreement.
The suspension of rail services has caused massive losses, with manufactured industrial goods stagnant in the state and industry unable to source raw materials from abroad.
Agricultural operations have also been affected because the urea and DAP needed for the upcoming wheat growing season have not been transported to the state.
Even stocks of food grains in the state, purchased for FCI, have not been transported, leaving little space to store the new rice.
The protests, as part of the Rail Roko agitation started by farmers, have lasted for 37 days. Farmers protest against the three farm laws enacted by the BJP-led NDA government in the Center in September.
Railways says track authorization awaits in Punjab
Railways said on Friday it expects rioters to clear the tracks to resume operations in Punjab. Senior officials from the Government of Railways and Punjab have debated the matter since morning in an attempt to resolve it.
So far, 22 places are places where agitators remain on the tracks or within the circulation area of railway stations, the president and CEO of the Board of Railways, VK Yadav, said at a virtual press conference.
There have been widespread protests in Punjab and Haryana against the agriculture-related bills passed by Parliament in September.
We have started maintenance of the tracks and are now waiting for a security clearance from the state government, Yadav said, adding: “We can operate all freight and passenger trains, but we hope the blockade will end.”
Trains cannot operate selectively, railways were seeking to resume cargo and passenger operations, Yadav said.
The sources said there are indications that the state government was interested in allowing freight trains. The Railways want to resume all operations that would include trains destined to collect food grains.
The Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Arun Kumar, said that the tracks are still blocked in other places and that the agitators are in the circulation area and can enter the tracks at any time. He said he was in contact with the Punjab DGP.
Yadav said that the tracks must be inspected and that the railways had an overbooking on passenger trains.
