Chandili farmers oppose proposed mandi site at Pipalahandi village

Koraput: Farmers of Chandili panchayat bordering Chhattisgarh in Koraput district’s Kotpad block have opposed construction of a mandi (paddy procurement centre) at nearby Pipalahandi village, alleging that the site is unsuitable and would create hardships for cultivators during procurement season.

The farmers submitted a memorandum to the district administration on Wednesday demanding that the mandi be set up at Chandili, where around 2.35 acres of govt land had been demarcated nearly two years ago. However, the project was later shifted to Pipalahandi, around 3 km away.

The farmers told that the Pipalahandi site is highly flood-prone as it lies barely 200m from a river that overflows during the monsoon. “If the mandi is built there, farmers will face difficulties during the rainy season as the entire area gets inundated,” said Padmanav Bisoi, a local farmer.

The farmers claimed that the land lies nearly 4-ft below the road level and around 15-ft lower than NH-26, making transportation of paddy-laden trucks and tractors risky.

“There is every possibility of accidents while transporting paddy in trucks and tractors to such a low-lying area. The administration should reconsider the decision in the interest of farmers,” said Padman Harijan, a Chandili farmer.

Another farmer, Rabi Chandra Bisoi, alleged that despite repeated appeals to the tehsil-level officials, no concrete action has been taken so far. Chandili sarpanch Puspa Pujari urged the administration to set up the mandi at Chandili.

Sub-collector (Jeypore) Jadumani Nayak said Pipalahandi residents are also demanding that the mandi be established in their village. “The construction work has been stopped following opposition from the farmers and residents of both villages. They have been asked to arrive at an amicable solution. If they fail, the administration will take necessary steps,” Nayak said.