Feb 9, 2013 - WARANGAL
Cotton farmers resorted to protests demanding that the cotton that had got soaked in rain water on Friday morning be purchased by the Cotton Corporation of India at the Enumamula Agricultural Market. The CCI had announced on Thursday itself that it would not purchase any cotton on Friday but unaware of this, farmers brought cotton stocks to the market which was soaked in the rainwater in the morning soaked the cotton in water.
Cotton farmers had transported as much as 80,000 bags of cotton to the Enumamula market on Friday. Disappointed farmers tried to lay siege to the market secretary's chamber. The secretary, V Srinivas alerted the police authorities to prevent trouble. Several special party police teams were deployed at the agricultural market. Both market secretary V Srinivas and CCI authorities informed the district administration that the cotton arrivals were totally soaked and it was not possible to purchase the cotton.
However, with directions from the district collector B Rahul, the CCI authorities agreed to purchase the soaked cotton from Saturday after purchasing the stocks which had arrived on Thursday. Authorities have not yet decided the rate for the soaked cotton.
(Source: The Times of India)