Farmers block Yamuna Expressway in UP

Farmers blockaded the Yamuna Expressway on Tuesday in Uttar Pradesh, demanding more money as compensation for crops damaged by untimely rainfall.

Farmers blockaded the expressway in Maant tehsil of Mathura district. They told IANS that the present compensation of Rs.18,000 per hectare is not enough to cover their losses and the government should provide them another amount of Rs.20,000 per hectare.

The government must take care of their losses and offer loan waiver schemes, farmers said. "We want to call the Mathura district magistrate and want it in writing from him about how soon and how much money we will get as compensation for crops damaged due to unseasonal rainfall."

On Monday, hundreds of farmers set up roadblocks on the expressway in Naujheel area, protesting delay in payment of compensation for damaged crops.

The traffic between Agra and Noida remained disrupted for several hours on Monday.

Additional District Magistrates (finance) Dheerendra Sachan met the farmers here and promised early action.