Patna, April 20: BJP members today stalled the proceedings of the Legislative Council over non-payment of dues and bonus to sugarcane and paddy farmers as they sought a special debate on the issue.

As the Zero Hour began, BJP member Baidyanath Prasad stood on his chair and requested the Council presiding officer Haroon Rashid that the adjournment motion he had moved be taken up for holding a special debate on the issue of payment of Rs 600 crore in dues that sugar mills owe to farmers apart from the government not releasing bonus amount to both paddy and sugarcane growers.

Prasad said the state government's anti-farmer policy had led to despair and anger among farmers. "Its apathetic and indifferent attitude is forcing the farmers to commit suicide," he said.

BCA/BSc (IT) degree holders

Under Point of Information, BJP member Devesh Chandra Thakur raised the issue of unfair treatment to BCA and BSc (IT) degree holders in the selection of computer teachers for higher secondary schools in the state, the process for which is currently underway. Farmland area

Replying to BJP member Nawal Kishore Yadav's query as whether the area of farmland was decreasing, Chaudhary said it had reduced from 62.26 lakh hectares to 61.77 lakh hectares and cited the growing urbanisation and infrastructure development, including building of roads, schools and hospitals, behind the trend.

Horticulture target

In reply to a query by BJP member Nawal Kishore Yadav, who wanted to know as whether the government had failed in its target of horticulture development, the agriculture minister said the scheme for horticulture development had been affected as the central government had cut the grant for the purpose but the scheme had not failed.

No urea shortage

Agriculture minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary replied to CPI member Kedar Nath Pandey's query during question hour on whether or not the government intended to make adequate urea available in the state.

He said: "Based on the estimate made by the government for the rabi season 2015, the government had demanded 12 lakh metric tonnes of urea from the Centre but was given 10 lakh metric tonnes of urea against the last year's 11.5 lakh metric tonnes." "Though the Centre had released urea lesser than what the state government wanted, there was no shortage of urea in the state," added Chaudhary.