Belgaum: Minister for Cooperation G.T. Deve Gowda has promised to take action against the management of Naranja Sahakari Sakkare Karkhane in Bidar for stopping crushing of sugarcane on May 11.

He was speaking to presspersons here in Wednesday.

The Minister's attention was drawn towards reports of the factory management headed by Gurupadappa Nagmarpalli taking a "unilateral" decision to stop crushing on May 11 in protest against alleged booking of police cases against two factory officials over a sugarcane grower's suicide. It was resumed the next day under pressure from growers. Mr. Gowda said that he would look into the matter to see whether the decision to stop crushing at a time when the factories were confronting the problem of surplus cultivation was warranted at all.

To a question, he said the management would be responsible for any loss suffered by the growers and the factory during the period of closure. And, the Government would see to it that the management compensated the loss, he said.

The Minister said that the Government would settle all the loan accounts of the farmers under waiver scheme by July 31. So far, Rs. 700 crore had been released to cooperative banks under the scheme, he said.

On providing relief to the workers of Raibag Sahakara Sakkare Karkhane, Raibag, Mr. Gowda said he had not been informed of the issue either by Deputy Commissioner M.E. Shivalingmurthy or by Administrator of the factory although they met him during his visit to the city.

Mr. Gowda went to the venue of a dharna by the factory workers and assured them that he would convene a meeting and try to the get the court stay vacated at the earliest.

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