HD Kumaraswamy to protest in front of Si­dda­ramaiah’s house to support cane farmers

Belgaum: Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy thr­eatened to launch a protest in front of the residence of Chief Minister Si­dda­ramaiah if sugar factories fail to pay Rs 2,650 per tonne of sugarcane to all cane growers by December 30. He warned the factories that they have to abide by the government order and pay the price fixed.

At a meeting of sugarcane growers in Mudhol, Kumaraswamy said that several sugar factories have failed to pay the price announced by the government, though the cane crushing season commenced a month ago. The factories are bound to pay the farmers within 15 days of receiving sugarcane, he sa­­id.

A sugarcane farmer from Raibag committed suicide in front of Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum when the winter session was on in the last week of No­ve­mber.

Although, the government fixed Rs 2,650 per tonne of sugarcane later, none of the factories were ready to pay the price. Several private factories moved the high court challenging the government's price, terming it unfair.

Kumaraswamy said that the factories were ha­r­assing the cane growers by not abiding by the government order.

At a folk programme organised in Jamkhandi later, Kumaraswamy targeted former minister Murugesh Nirani without taking his name.

He said, “An MLA who fought for the cause of farmers is now fighting for the sake of a sugar factory, which he owns.

“Leaders should fi­ght for the rights of farmers and ensure that sugarcane growers come out of the crisis.”

He said that since the factories have refused to pay the price to sugarcane gro­wers, the government sh­o­u­ld compensate cane growers by paying a certain amount for every acre of cane grown.

“The plight of farmers who grow sugarcane and grapes in north Karnataka region is terrible as most of them have failed to repay their loans because of crop loss.

“The farmers also have to bear the brunt of increasing prices of commodities over the last few months,” he said.

Agri-tech is not available in this agriculture-based co­u­ntry and farmers are forced to adopt their own techniques.

For the steady gr­owth of agriculture, both the Central and state governments should work together to ensure that agri-technology reaches t­h­e farmers, he said.

On the Krishna water issue, Kumaraswamy said that the state’s share of Krishna river water (Krishna ‘A’ Scheme) is not being used effectively, even as Andhra Pradesh is making use of all its share of 818 tmcft.

The government is neglecting the issue of sharing of Krishna water by not taking appropriate measures.

The governme­nt­ did not invite opposition parties to discuss the Krishna ‘B’ Scheme after the tribunal gave its verdict on it recently.

Because of the government’s negligence, more than 13,000 acres of land have been deprived of irrigation facilities, he said.