The Hindu : Karnataka News : Government ready to take over cooperative sugar factories

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Thursday, Aug 16, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Government ready to take over cooperative sugar factories

Staff Correspondent

Ultimatum will be issued to settle the dues of farmers, says Minister

Bidar: The Government is ready to take over cooperative sugar factories if they are not run in a farmer-friendly manner, Agriculture Minister Bandeppa Kashempur has said

He was reacting to allegations that government policies were being detrimental to the factories, here on Wednesday.

“The managements have expressed helplessness in running the factories profitably and have challenged the Government to take over. We want to tell them that we are ready to do so. We are sure we will operate them so efficiently that the farmers will be paid well,” he said.

“The factories have not paid farmers for almost a year now. We see no reason why the factories should not clear the bills of farmers. The Union Government has allowed sugar exports and is giving incentives to factories that sell sugar in overseas markets. The State Government has helped the factories get pledge loans,” he said.

It was being planned to issue an ultimatum to the factories to settle the dues of farmers. The details would be worked out at a meeting of district officials and factory chairmen on Thursday, he said.

The Government had cancelled the scheme of providing bullock carts to farmers. Instead, Rs. 50 crore would be spent on supplying bullock. Civilian planes would start taking off from the Bidar Air Force base in a year. Work on constructing the civil enclave in the Air Force Base had started, Mr. Kashempur said.

The Government had released Rs. 2 crore to the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board for acquiring nearly 125 acres of land for the purpose.

Mr. Kashempur denied allegations by some student organisations that there was a move to privatise agriculture colleges.

“We are planning to allow private institutions to set up agriculture colleges. A cabinet sub-committee headed by Home Minister M.P. Prakash will look into this,” he said.

The Government would promote horticulture in Bidar district.

A national seminar will be held in Bidar on August 21, in this regard.

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