JD(S) MLAs, 1,000 farmers to meet CM

They are seeking a special relief package for coconut growers

Coconut farms with dead trees in Arsikere taluk.

K.M. Shivalinge Gowda of Arsikere and C.N. Balakrishna of Shravanabelagola, MLAs from Janata Dal (Secular), will take a delegation of over 1,000 farmers from Hassan district to Bengaluru in a week to pressurise the State government to announce a special relief package for coconut growers, who have incurred huge losses owing to drought. More than 14.13 lakh coconut trees of the district have died.

At a joint press conference, here on Monday, both the MLAs said the State government had not responded to the plight of coconut growers, who have been fleeing their villages in search of small jobs in Bengaluru. “A farmer who had 400 coconut trees has left the village to work as a security guard in Bengaluru. Similarly, hundreds of people are working in textile garment units in the capital, as there has been no income from their coconut farms,” he said.

Mr. Balakrishna said, till a few years ago a family with 100 coconut trees was earning enough for their family. “Now, those with hundreds of trees are penniless. They are struggling to get a coconut for their own use, forget selling it in the market,” he said.

The MLAs said that, recently, along with Minister for Horticulture S.S. Mallikarjun and Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa, they had met Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh requesting for a special package. “The Union Minister clearly told us that he had no funds to provide a special package at the money allocated to his department was insufficient. He suggested that we approach the Prime Minister with a delegation led by the Chief Minister of the State. Now, the ball is in CM Siddaramaiah’s court,” said Mr. Shivalinge Gowda said.

They sought a special relief package in tune with the number of coconut trees affected. “The State government has sought a package of ₹9,000 crore. We want relief with respect to number of trees. Earlier, while taking over coconut farms for a government project, compensation of ₹8,500 to ₹15,000 per tree was given. This time too the government should do the same and assess the value of a tree depending on its age,” Mr. Shivalinge Gowda said.

The MLAs will take a delegation of 1,000 farmers to CM’s house in Bengaluru under party leader H.D. Revanna within a week. “If we don’t get a positive response, we will go to Delhi also,” he added.