Government urged to rescue Shivamogga sugarcane growers

They are facing hardship owing to closure of sugar factory: KRRS

H.R. Basavarajappa, working president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), has urged the State government to come to the rescue of sugarcane growers as they were facing hardships owing to the temporary closure of Mysore Paper Mills (MPM), a public sector undertaking (PSU) in Bhadravati, which also runs a sugar factory.

The closure of MPM as per the order of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for alleged violation of pollution norms had created a sense of insecurity among farmers as they had entered into a contract with the firm to supply sugarcane. The government should direct the sugar factories in the neighbouring Davangere district to purchase sugarcane from farmers in Bhadravati taluk. The government should bear the transportation costs that the farmers would be incurring to transport the sugarcane to Davangere district, he said at a press conference here on Friday.

The firm had set a target to crush 2.1 lakh tonne sugarcane during this season. Sugarcane had been cultivated in about 6,800 hectares of land. The crushing of 1.01 lakh tonnes of sugarcane had already been completed. However, sugarcane growers would suffer from huge losses if there was any delay in the resumption of crushing activities at the sugar factory, he said.

The MPM, which had been incurring losses for the past few years, could be revived by operating the firm on public-private partnership (PPP) model. However, a proper debate should be held prior to taking a decision in this regard. The elected representatives of the region and leaders of trade unions and farmers' organisations should be taken into confidence while taking a decision on resolving the issue, he said.

The machines installed in the factor at the time of inception in 1937 were still functioning.

The antiquated production system had been blamed for the losses. Workers of the firm and farmers who supply sugarcane for it had requested the State government to provide funds for its modernisation. But, no action had been initiated in this regard. As some of private companies had evinced interest on operating the firm on a joint venture basis, the government should take an appropriate decision in this regard, he said.

Mr. Basavarajappa urged the government to withdraw its decision of appointing politicians as chairperson of MPM. The firm had become a rehabilitation centre for politicians who had lost the elections or those who could not seek election. In the past, the firm had faced many financial problems owing to unscientific decisions of politicians. It was possible to eliminate political interference and run the firm in a professional manner by opting for PPP model, he said.

Functionaries of KRRS Hittur Raju, K. Raghavendra, T.M. Chandrappa, S. Shivamurthy and E.B. Jagadeesh were present in the press meet.