KALABURAGI: The State Sugarcane Growers’ Association will relaunch its agitation from February 2, demanding payment of arrears for sugarcane supplied to factories last year.
This decision was taken at a meeting of the association here on Tuesday.
Association president Kurbur Shanthakumar told reporters that on February 2, the day of the commencement of the joint session of the State Legislature, cane growers will stage protests in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s offices in various districts.
From February 9, the association will launch different kinds of agitations in front of the Vidhana Soudha. He said the government seems to be working at the behest of sugar factories.
Though the High Court had issued orders six months ago asking the government to ensure that the factories pay `2,500 per tonne to growers, none of the 63 factories in the state have done so. Most factories have not even paid `2,000 per tonne, he added.
“Instead of directing the factories to respect the HC order, Sugar Minister H S Mahadev Prasad and the Excise Minister have advised the growers to shift to other crops instead of depending only on sugarcane. The ministers do not know what will happen if all cane growers follow their suggestion,” Kumar said. He said the association has urged the Centre to enhance the fair and remunerative price of sugarcane from `2,300 per tonne.
The meeting also decided to oppose the Centre’s proposal to amend the Land Acquisition Act.