Steps taken to crush surplus sugarcane before May 30: Minister

Bangalore, Apr 25(UNI) Karnataka Minister for Sugar S A Ravindranath today said that steps have been taken to crush the surplus sugar cane in the State before May 30.

Talking to newsmen here, he said that this year the sugar cane yield was high with 230 lakh tonnes against last year's 130 lakh tonnes. Action has been taken to crush the 30 lakh tonnes of sugar cane before May 30.

Stating that the crushing activity is in full swing in the districts of Gulbarga, Bidar and Belgaum, he said that sugar cane from Bijapur was being sent to Sangli in Maharashtra.

It may be recalled here that the sugar cane growing farmers, last week, held agitation and attempted to commit suicide demanding the government to take measures to crush sugar cane.

Mr Ravindranth, who also holds Rural Drinking Water Supply portfolio, said that the government had released Rs 23 crore since last two days to solve the shortage of drinking water in the state.

UNI