MYSURU: The state government has got into damage-control mode to win back the confidence of farmers and defuse tension in the Cauvery basin. It has started collecting details of farmers who are set to lose their only crop.
The government is under severe pressure from farmers to pay out compensation. With the Cauvery Raitha Hitharakshana Samithi serving notice accusing the government of betraying farmers of Mandya district, the government has asked the district administration to collect Aadhaar card, bank account and khata details from the farmers who have cultivated paddy or sugarcane in the region.
Many farmers who have already transplanted paddy, those yet to transplant and those who have given up farming for the year made a beeline to the panchayat offices. Many wanted to know the quantum of compensation that will be paid per acre.
The initiative in Mandya district has also spread to Mysuru, Chamrajnagar and Hassan districts that covers 8 lakh acres.
Nagaraj, a farmer of Chandagala village, said he had submitted RTC of two acres and bank details, Aadhaar number to village accountant.
Recalling that the S M Krishna government had deposited Rs 5,000 per acre, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha vice-president Nanjunde Gowda said the government should exhibit its political will and pay Rs 40,000 per acre for cultivated land and Rs 25,000 for those who had not cultivated due to scarcity of water.
“How can we trust this government of paying compensation when they have not paid anything to families members of farmers who committed suicide last year,” he asked.
The farmers of Kabini basin have decided not to accept anything less than Rs 25,000 per acre.
Cauvery Raitha Hitha Rakshana Samithi president G Made Gowda said he would to take the legal way if government fails to pay relief.