Summary:
MYSURU: State Sugarcane Growers Association president Kurbur Shanthakumar on Monday alleged that sugar factories owned by Belagavi district minister Ramesh Jarkiholi owe Rs 19 crore to farmers who supplied sugarcane to his factories.Belagavi has nearly 23 sugar factories including those belonging to the minister. “However, most of factories have paid just ?1,000 to growers and kept the bills pending for a long time. Many factories have furnished false information regarding payment to farmers to the government. But the factories have failed to pay the full amount to farmers, he told reporters here.“According to a central act, sugar factories are bound to pay growers within 14 days of receiving the produce after making an initial payment of Rs 2,500,” Kurbur said. I urge chief minister HD Kumaraswamy to look into the matter and take stern action against those who provided the wrong information.” He urged the government to include a clause in the state act governing the welfare of cane farmers to levy fines on sugar mills that fail to pay farmers within the stipulated period.Hitting out at the chief minister for remarks he made regarding cane farmers on Sunday, Kurbur urged Kumaraswamy to issue an apology..