BENGALURU/MYSURU: Traffic between Bengaluru and Mysuru is likely to be hit on Thursday by a protest by the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) over sugarcane dues and farmer suicides. However, Mandya police have assured smooth flow of traffic by limiting the duration of the protest and providing diversions.
According to KRRS general secretary Nanjunde Gowda, farmers will block the highway, condemning the state government’s “apathy” towards farmers and demanding payment of sugarcane dues.
The activists will block the highway at two locations — Srirangapatna and Maddur — with bullock carts and cattle. Gowda said the decision was taken to convey the farmers’ ire against the delay in crushing sugarcane in factories.
They will also demand that the state take concrete measures to stop farmer suicides, fix sugarcane prices and pay pending dues. Gowda said about 500 bullock carts will be parked at Bus Stand Circle at Srirangapatna and T B Circle in Maddur, Mandya. “But we don’t intend to cause inconvenience to the public,” he said.
“Roads will be blocked from 10 am to 5 pm to draw the attention of the public to the problems faced by farmers,” he added.
While protestors have threatened to block multiple routes between Mysuru and Bengaluru, Mandya SP Bhushan G Borase said police will provide diversions depending on the protest venues. Vehicles could move from Mysuru to Bengaluru via Malavalli, Halagur and Kanakapura, he said. If the Malavalli route is blocked, motorists can reach Bengaluru via Nagamangala, he added.