Lockdown: Maha farmers seek Thackeray's nod to access land

Wardha, May 6 () Farmers from the border areas ofMaharashtra's Amravati district sought Chief Minister UddhavThackeray's permission to prepare their land for the upcomingKharif season, as the current COVID-19 lockdown has preventedthem from accessing their farms in Wardha.

The authorities at Wardha, Chandrapur, Amravati andYavatmal districts have sealed their borders to contain thespread of coronavirus, as a result of which, farmers in theborder areas have not been able to access their lands.

Farmers of Haturna village in Amravati district'sVarud tehsil wrote to the Chief Minister seeking permission toaccess their farms in Wardha district's Salora, Wadhegaon,Jamgaon, Dhadi, Borgaon and Drugwada areas.

The local authorities had denied them permission toaccess their farms, which is why they were forced to write tothe Chief Minister, said Baburao Meshram, one of the 55 famerswho signed the letter to Thackeray.

"If we don't get access to our land, how will wecultivate? We are ready to follow all norms. The governmentshould at least give us conditional permission," anothercultivator Deepak Pohane said.

The district administrations have set up 98 check-posts at villages and 16 check-posts on highways to restrictthe movement of vehicles and people, making it difficult forcultivators in these areas to inspect their land. CORARU ARU