Mandya: District minister N Cheluvarayaswamy on Friday assured farmers that the state govt would continue to support their cause and work towards resolving their demands, as farmers staged a protest near Ganangur toll plaza on the Bengaluru-Mysuru national highway, seeking an increase in sugarcane prices and other concessions.The minister visited the protest site, received a memorandum from farmers and appealed them to withdraw their agitation. The protest was called off following his assurance that their grievances would be taken up with the Union govt. Cheluvarayaswamy said the state govt would make concerted efforts, along with representatives of all political parties, to press the Centre to address farmers’ concerns. He also alleged that Karnataka was being treated unfairly in the allocation of funds and cited pending demands relating to Metro projects, Jal Jeevan mission grants and GST dues.On the proposed incentive of Rs 100 per tonne of sugarcane, the minister said the state govt had agreed to contribute Rs 50 per tonne, with sugar factories expected to provide the remaining Rs 50. However, the factories had obtained a court stay, and the state govt was pursuing legal remedies to have it vacated, he said.He also said the govt had approved a hike in milk prices and that it would be implemented after the model code of conduct was lifted. The minister said a meeting with farmers would be held on Oct 26, to discuss their demands and explore solutions.MLAs Darshan Puttanaiah and Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, deputy commissioner Kumara, representatives of farmers’ organisations and farmers were present.
