Sugarcane farmer commits suicide

Gulbarga, May 1(UNI) Despite efforts by the officials to resolve the sugar cane growers problems, a sugar cane farmer committed suicide by hanging himself at Narayanapur Village in Jawargi taluk in the District yesterday.

Mr Basavaraj Siddaramappa(45) took THE extreme step as he was unable to repay Rs 1.5 lakh loan taken from the Krishna Grameena Bank and DCC Bank as the Renuka Sugars allegedly did not lift the sugar cane grown by him, District Raitha Sangha President Kedaralinga Heremath told newsmen here today.

Mr Hiremath alleged that the Renuka Sugars expressing reluctance to lift the sugar cane from small farmers. He demanded the State government to announce Rs 500 as compensation to each tonne of the sugar cane grown in the region.

It may be recalled that nine sugar cane farmers attempted suicide in front of Tahasildar's office in Jawargi on April 11 demanding the government to ensure that the Renuka Sugars buy sugar cane from the farmers of the region instead from Andhra and Maharashtra. On April 17 the Sugar cane Commissioner Munjunath held a meeting with sugar cane growers and the Management of Renuka Sugars and convinced them to buy sugar cane from the farmers of the region.

UNI