Cane farmers observe bandh in Kolhapur Dist

Kolhapur, Sep 27 (UNI) The sugarcane farmers of Shirol and Hatkanangale tehsils of the district observed a bandh today, demanding immediate release of the second installment of payment due to them.

The bandh was called by the Swabhimani Shetakari Sanghatana (SSS), which evoked good response in these two tehsils. All business activities were closed for the day, said SSS district unit chief R Bhagwanrao Kate.

He said in a meeting held between the management of sugar factories in Kolhapur district and SSS representatives led by MLA Raju Shetty last November, it was agreed that the mills would pay Rs 1,280 per tonne to sugarcane supplying farmers.

Sugar factories had paid the first installment of Rs 900 per tonne of cane to the farmers, but ten months after the agreement, sugar factories had not paid the remaining second installment of Rs 380 per tonne to the farmers, he said and warned that the Sanghatana will not allow the sugar factories to start crushing season this year, which is scheduled to begin from October 1, if they failed to pay the second installment to the farmers.

UNI