The Kabbu Belegarara Sangha has decided to launch an indefinite relay hunger strike in front of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, the venue of the Legislature session from June 29, even as the Karnataka Rajya Raith Sangha and Hasiru Sene and the Bharat Krishik Samaj have planned to protest over sugarcane dues for the preceding two preceding crushing seasons and making sugarcane cultivation a feasible agricultural activity.
Sangha president Kurubar Shanthkumar, talking to presspersons here on Saturday said that around Rs. 4,200 crore was due to the growers by various sugar mills in the State since 2013-14.
Mr. Shanthkumar said the State government lacked the necessary political will to resolve problems confronting sugarcane and other growers. Belated measures by holding meeting with managements of sugar mills were only “drama”, as it yielded no positive results .
He said that the present crisis arising out of lower prices for sugarcane and sugar was due to the Centre’s lack of concern and delayed decision on increasing import duty from 15 per cent to 40 per cent.
The centre increased the import duty last month.
He said that a final decision on the share in profits from the byproducts from sugarcane to the growers was yet to be taken under the SAP Act.
Sugar mills across
the State owe
farmers close to
Rs. 4,200 crore
