Mysuru: Members of Karnataka State Farmers’ Federation, Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers’ Association staged a protest at Gandhi Square here on Friday, urging the state govt to declare drought-hit taluks besides stop implementation of the Bidadi Township project.The protesters shouted slogans against both the state and central govt for delay in announcement of drought-hit taluks as most of them were reeling under a dry spell due to failure of monsoon across the state. They said people are struggling to arrange fodder and drinking water, and standing crops are withering in various parts of the state, including Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, they said.They urged that state and Union govts must immediately send a drought assessment team to assess the damage and take up relief measures.Addressing the protesters, Karnataka Sugarcane Growers’ Association president Kuruburu Shanthakumar said that both the govts must bail out farmers from their crisis, setting aside political advantages.He also condemned the state govt’s decision to acquire7,500 acres of fertile agriculture land for the Bidadi Township project against the interest of farmers, and the destruction of coconut and arecanut plantations for the development of the project. While criticising both ruling and opposition parties for politicising the project, he said they must stop such projects that are against the interest of farmers.
