Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the State government would pay Rs. 250 incentive for a tonne of sugarcane and that the managements of sugar factories had been asked to pay Rs. 2,400 for a tonne of sugarcane.
The Chief Minister warned the factories that they would face action if they failed to implement the government’s direction. Speaking to reporters after performing special puja at Talakad to mark Panchalinga Darshana, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the factories had been told to pay arrears of sugarcane due to farmers besides the State Advisory Price on sugarcane.
When reporters sought his reaction to the reported demand by the former Minister Umesh Katti for statehood for North Karnataka, Mr. Siddaramaiah said: “It is a foolish statement.” He said that a large number of people, including eminent personalities and writers, had fought for the unification of the State and carving out a new state was not possible.
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Wildlife attacks
On the recent tiger attacks in Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks, the Chief Minister said that he had directed the Forest Department officials to take immediate steps to deal with the problem. “I have told them to prevent wild animals straying into human habitations and loss of human life and damage to crops,” he said.
The Chief Minister referred to the incident of a herd of elephants straying into a village off Mysore-H.D. Kote Road near Mysore while responding to queries on man-animal conflict.
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Later, Mr. Siddaramaiah flew back to Belgaum in a special aircraft for the Legislature session.