Farmers dump cocoon on road; stage stir

Woes continues: Crash in prices of silk triggers protest

They also demanded action on officials for their negligent attitude.

The protest was held under the aegis of the Communist Party of India CPI (M) which blocked Kollegal-Mysore National Highway.

The sericulturists flayed the officials of the cocoon market for not taking steps to start the auction process even though hundreds of farmers had come to the market.

They alleged that the administrative officer of the market stopped the auction process on Sunday claiming that no silk reeler participated in the purchase process.

Even, as the agitators submitted a memorandum to joint director, Department of Sericulture, Lakshmikanthraje Urs to resume the auction process, the latter did not act.

The Director of the Cocoon market, Basavanna also failed to respond to farmer’s plea. Irked by the indifferent attitude of the officialdom, the cocoon rearers resorted to a snap strike and sat on dharna on the highway.

On  receipt of information, Superintendent of Police Prakash came to the spot and pacified the agitators as the situation was volatile.

When the farmers threatened to intensify their stir, the SP spoke to Commissioner of Sericulture Department, Dr Nagalambikadevi and explained her about the prevailing situation in the town. She, in turn, directed the local officers to buy the cocoon at ` 250 per kg. In the meantime, MP R Dhruvanarayan visited the spot and pacified the agitators to withdraw their stir.

They called off their protest after the auction process was started. Joint Director of Sericulture Department Lakshmikantheraje Urs, Deputy Superintendent of Police Mahadevaiah, Assistant Commissioner A B Basavaraju, Deputy Director of Cocoon Market Basavanna, Assistant Director Premanath and others were present.

Silk reelers hold protest

Tension prevailed for some time at Cocoon market in Mudigunda in the town on Sunday when the silk reelers stayed away from the auction process. Taking objection, the sericulturists took to streets and blocked the highway.

The silk reelers skipped the auction following crash in prices of silk in national and international market.

A kilogram of silk thread which was costing ` 2,700 last week, had dropped to ` 1700 this week.

Irked over delay in the starting of auction process, the farmers, who had brought the cocoon three days back to the market, lost temper and resorted to snap strike.

They locked joint director of Sericulture Lakshmikantheraje Urs in his office for some time. However, the officer was freed after the arrival of police.

Meanwhile, the silk reelers also boycotted the auction at cocoon market at Santhermarahalli in the taluk on Sunday, owing to sudden fall in the prices. They said they have suffered huge loss following fluctuation in the market prices.

The private companies too stopped purchasing the silk thread from the silk reelers thus affecting their business. They sought the intervention of the department concerned.

The stir was led by Honnur Nanjundaswamy, Chamarajanagar Ramu, Kiragasur Nagaraju, Rangaswamy and Mallaiah.