BELAGAVI: Yielding to pressure from debt-ridden farmers and Opposition parties, the state government on Tuesday announced that it would clear sugarcane dues.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told the Assembly that the government would pay Rs 100 per tonne from its coffers by July 10, and another Rs 100 before July-end if mills failed to do so.
The government’s decision comes in the wake of sugar mills refusing to pay arrears of Rs 923 crore for 2013-14, citing financial problems. Following the government assurance, farmers who were sitting in dharna at the APMC grounds here ended their protest.
“We will deposit Rs 100 per tonne in the farmers’ accounts directly by July 10 and make sugar mills pay another Rs 100 per tonne by July 31. If they (sugar mills) fail, the government will make the payment and recover it from them later,” Siddaramaiah said.
The state government had in 2013-14 already given assistance to sugar mills in various forms to the tune of Rs 1,173 crore to clear their dues to farmers.
As for cane dues of Rs 2,120 crore for 2014-15, the government decided to seek Central assistance. “It is the joint responsibility of the state and Central governments. The Centre cannot run away from its responsibilities by just announcing Fair and Remunerative Price for sugar. Without the Centre’s assistance, it is difficult for the state to ensure payment of arrears. So, let us go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an all-party delegation and seek his help,” Siddaramaiah said.
He said he was also considering taking a delegation of the chief ministers of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu where sugarcane is grown, to seek the Centre’s help.
However, Opposition parties continued with their demand that the government clear the 2013-14 arrears immediately, besides making a commitment on the floor of the House with regard to the payment of arrears for 2014-15.
Siddu vs Shettar
Opposition leader Jagadish Shettar accused the government of shirking its responsibilities, which angered Siddaramaiah. “You (BJP) are creating politics. Not only in Karnataka, even Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have sugarcane dues to the tune of Rs 3,773 crore and Rs 9,154 crore (respectively). Why don’t you make a similar demand to your party government in Maharashtra?” the CM asked. This led to a heated argument and when the government did not budge, BJP members trooped into the well pressing their demands, while JD(S) members, led by their leader H D Kumaraswamy, walked out of the House.
Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa appealed to BJP members to resume their seats, but in vain, forcing him to adjourn the House for the day.