State jute industry has been suffocating and situation is worst in Nadia, where jute cultivators are prohibited from using Chingri river.
Haringhata panchayat samity has prohibited farmers from using river water for supposed urbanization of locality.
Panchayat samity has decided to raise embankment of dying tributary, for that samity has encroached several bighas of land connecting river. These lands will be sold and 39 plots have been allotted to businessmen.
Therefore, farmers who have been cultivating jute on 500 acres of land are not allowed to use the water of river.
Jute produced in Haringhata is far better than other areas but cultivators are living in dire poverty, jute cultivators stated.
According to some farmers, Union Textile Ministry Shanker Singh Vaghela stated that jute sector will get similar benefits as cotton sector has been enjoying.
Government has also approved Rs350 crore for Jute Technology Mission but diktats of CPI-M leaders is demoralizing the jute farmers.
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