Farmers block NH-363, protest urea shortage across erstwhile Adilabad

A severe shortage of urea has triggered widespread protests across the erstwhile Adilabad district, with farmers staging rasta roko demonstrations and blocking traffic in multiple mandals. Officials have promised swift action, but farmers continue to demand immediate resolution.

Adilabad: Shortage of urea continues to hit farmers across the erstwhile Adilabad district, triggering protests at several places with demands that the government ensure adequate supply.

Disgruntled farmers staged a rasta roko on NH-363 in Rebbena mandal of Kumram Bheem Asifabad district on Tuesday, protesting against the shortage. They expressed anger at officials for failing to address the problem even after a month. Some farmers attempted to come under moving buses, while another pleaded with a police officer by touching his feet.

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The protesters accused officials of negligence in ensuring adequate stock of the fertiliser and picked arguments with them. They withdrew their stir only after officials assured them that the issue would be addressed at the earliest. Traffic came to a halt for a while, causing inconvenience to motorists and TGSRTC passengers.

Meanwhile, farmers blocked traffic in Chintalamanepalli mandal centre, demanding sufficient urea supply. They expressed frustration at the inadequate stocks at Kagaznagar and Asifabad mandal headquarters, saying they had been waiting at societies from as early as 4 am, losing sleep and unable to focus on farm work.

Similar protests were reported in Kotapalli mandal of Mancherial district and Utnoor in Adilabad district. Long queues of farmers waiting to buy urea were also seen in several parts of Nirmal district. Farmers urged the government to ensure sufficient supply without further delay.