Sugarcane farmers to get additional Rs 150 per tonne in Karnataka

State govt to take strict action on mills for failure to pay Rs 2,500 per tonne

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah today announced on the floor of the state legislative assembly that the government would take strict penal action on those sugar mills that fail to pay Rs 2,500 per tonne to farmers. In addition to this, the government is committed to provide Rs 150 per tonne support price, he said.

Making a statement in the assembly this morning, the chief minister said the government was committed to protect the interests of sugarcane farmers.

His statement comes after the death of a sugarcane farmer at Belgaum on Wednesday, who committed suicide by consuming pesticide in front of the state legislative assembly building.

Besides announcing a subsidy of Rs 150 per tonne, the chief minister also announced waiving of road tax, VAT and purchase tax on sugarcane, which will cost the state exchequer Rs 500 crore.

Siddaramaiah also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the deceased farmer Vittala Bheemappa Arabhavi (58), who had a marginal farm at Kankanawadi in Raibhag taluk of Belgaum district.

Soon after the house met this morning at Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum, the opposition BJP members staged a dharna and created ruckus in the house over the suicide of a sugarcane farmer. They demanded the resignation of chief minister for his failure to protect the interests of the farmers.

As the House assembled, BJP members stormed into the well and started shouting slogans against the government.

BJP Floor Leader Jagadish Shetter blamed Siddaramaiah for the suicide yesterday, saying he could have avoided the tragedy by announcing additional minimum support price for sugarcane on day one of the winter session, on Monday.

Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa adjourned the house for half an hour after his repeated requests to the members asking them to return to their seats went unheeded.

Later speaking to reporters, BJP General Secretary and former Minister C T Ravi said the party would continue its dharna till Siddaramaiah resigns and government announces increase of Minimum Support Price by Rs 1,000.