K'taka CM announces subsidy for sugarcane growers

Bangalore, Apr 12 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today announced a subsidy of Rs 100 per tonne for crushing sugarcane in view of the crisis being faced by the growers.

Making this announcement at a meeting of sugarcane growers, political leaders and factory owners here, he said waiver of purchase tax would continue till April, 2008. Suitable action would be taken to crush the excess sugarcane, he added.

The Chief Minister said the problem of export and distribution of molasses would also be solved in a week.

The plight of sugarcane growers was highlighted by nine vexed farmers yesterday when they attempted to commit suicide by consuming pesticide in front of Government officials at Jewargi in Gulbarga district in protest against the Renuka Sugar Factory not buying their crop, but instead procuring from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

UNI