On Thursday, clamouring for an immediate ban on unabated drug peddling in the village, Kaur joined a protest in the village against the local administration’s alleged inaction against the drug peddlers as she pleaded that her both drug-addicted sons yesterday even sold the wheat from house to buy drugs.

“The administration and police are not doing anything. I am even requesting the police to arrest my both sons in any case. I feel, this was the only option left now to prevent them from buying drugs by selling our household goods,” said a crestfallen Kaur.

Eventually, this is not the only story of Kamaljeet but there are several mothers and families in the village, who are suffering from drug menace, and cordoned off the main road of the village leading to an ‘infamous street’ to eradicate drug menace from the village.

The villagers have also installed a hoarding at the entry point of this street, which reads, ‘Gali Vich Chhita Bechana-Lain Jana Manna Hai’ (Buying and Selling drugs are prohibited in this street).

Inhabitants of the village alleged that out of over 30 houses located in this street, around 7 are in the nefarious business of drug peddling. It has been 8 days since they cordoned off the village, said locals.

Villagers identified 17 drug peddlers

“We have identified 17 persons, who are allegedly selling drugs in the street and this list has also been shared with the local police station on various occasions in the past but to no avail, said Gurdarshan Singh (73), retired sub-inspector from CRPF.

He said this illegal practice of drug peddling has worsened here in the past 2 years. “Now residents of the village have decided to end this illegal practice on our own to save a coming generation from this menace,” he added.

Another resident, Resham Singh (45), said, “Last year, I found that my son started taking drugs and he was buying them from our neighbours. Therefore, I had to shift him to Daroli Bhai village with my relatives. I am not allowing him to visit his village. Now we have cordoned off the road and are not allowing anyone to buy drugs.”

Mandeep Kaur (57), said, “I am living in this street and it was impossible to pass from this street as it remained crammed with parked vehicles of drug addicts. Therefore last year I along with dozens of women went to the local police station to seek help, but nothing happened.”

Charanjeet Kaur, sarpanch of the village, said, “We all want to eradicate drug menace from the village. Around 12 persons, who lived around that street, had reportedly died of drug addiction in the last two years.”

Meanwhile, the heavy police force was present in the village on Thursday to pacify the protestors assuring concrete action into the matter.

Harmanbir Singh Gill, SSP Moga said that he has asked SP (detective) to look into villagers’ allegations.

The post Villagers take charge to annihilate drug menace in Moga appeared first on Ubiq TV | English News Channel.

Barring a few toll plazas in both states, toll collection has been remained suspended in the past several months as farmers’ unions announced indefinite protests near toll plazas demanding rollback of bills.

The protest has led to toll suspension in thirteen build-operate-transfer (BOT) national highways projects and eleven BOT state highways projects leading to an estimated aggregate revenue loss of Rs.4.80 crore per day as there was disruption of toll collections for state projects since October 2020 accentuated with no fees collection at toll plazas since December 2020.

Considering farmers’ agitation, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) issued a circular in July 2021, giving an extension of the concession period and reimbursement up to 50% of the actual cost (O&M and interest) beyond insurance besides others to firms. However, Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), has yet not made a similar move.

Following estimated compensation from NHAI for 13 BOT toll projects would be Rs 1.60 crore per day thereby covering about 37% of loss of revenue.

Due to the present circumstances, the project worth Rs 4800 crore is on verge of termination. 9 out of 13 NHAI BOT projects in Punjab and Haryana were facing liquidity constraints.

Joginder Singh, President of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) said that farmers will continue their protest at the toll plazas and they would not allow them to operate till the time the BJP-led Union government accepts their demands.

The post Farmers’ agitation; Toll firms incur about Rs 5 crore daily loss appeared first on Ubiq TV | English News Channel.