JD-S urges Governor to help sugarcane growers

Bangalore, Dec 19 (UNI) Janata Dal(S) today blamed the BJP for the present crisis that is faced by sugarcane growers who have been put to great hardship in Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters JD(S) state unit President Merajuddin Patel the funds sanctioned funds for the payment of compensation to the sugarcane farmers was not released due to apathy of the coalition partner BJP, which did not cooperate in releasing it.

"The then Chief Minister, Mr Kumarswamy had sanctioned Rs 45 crore for the payment of compensation, but only Rs Six crore of this has been released so far," he said.

The sugarcane farmers in the state had a loan burden of Rs 140 crore during 2006-07 and to help them to clear this, it was necessary to sanction atleast another Rs 65 crore as compensating.

There was also an urgent need to hike the supporting price of sugarcane by Rs 100 per tonne, he said.

Mr Patel said he would submit a memorandum to Governor Rameshwar Thakur urging him help the sugarcane farmers to come out of the present crisis with the release of additional amount of Rs 65 crore as compensation.

He also criticised Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar for not making any announcement to help the sugarcane growers in the state.

UNI