Karnataka - Bijapur   

Sugarcane farmers in Bijapur demand higher price

Staff Correspondent

Government urged to `punish' factories for not keeping their promise

BIJAPUR: Members of farmers' organisations on Monday staged a dharna at different places in Bijapur and Bagalkot districts demanding a higher price for sugarcane.

The Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangh activists held a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office. District unit president Bhimshi Kaladagi and secretary Annaray Iliger said sugar factories should give Rs. 1,200 a tonne as agreed by them in the meeting held in Bangalore in October last.

They urged the Government to punish the factories for not keeping their promise.

The agitators handed over a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin.

In Bagalkot district, farmers having allegiance to Rajya Raitha Sangha (Chukki Nanjundswamy faction) continued to agitate in front of Godavari Sugar Mills Ltd. (GSML) and Prabhulingeshwar Sugars Private Ltd. (PSPL) factories at Samirwadi (Mudhol taluk) and Siddapur (Jamkhandi taluk), respectively.

Both factories could not start crushing this season. Farmers have also been agitating at the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Bagalkot since November 16.

However, the intensity of agitation has come down following differences among the farmers.

Jamkhandi MLA Siddu Savadi convened a meeting on the premises of PSPL at Siddapur on Monday.

The factory representatives said they could not give the price demanded by farmers.

According to reports, pandemonium broke out at the meeting.

A group insisted that crushing should be started immediately pending settlement of final price.

Finally, it was decided to hold another meeting within three days in the presence of Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Govind Karjol.

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