HC pulls up Co-op dept

The High Court pulled up the Cooperation Department for their apathetic attitude towards mango growers in the State.

Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen, on Monday, noted that the bureaucracy had failed completely in providing benefits to farmers.

“If you cannot work, look for some alternative jobs and close down the APMC. The farmers should receive fair price for their yield,” remarked Sen caustically.

The Division Bench headed by Vikramjit Sen and B V Nagarathna yet again asked the government to provide Minimum Support Price (MSP) for mango. It also directed the State government to submit an action plan in the next one week. 

Earlier, the Principal Secretary to the Co-operation Department submitted that production of mangoes was very low this year increasing the cost of production.

“Besides, the horticulture department is the one which fixes price and we need to examine it. The government has provided Rs 84 lakh for the development of Kolar APMC market,” he said. 

The PIL was filed by the Kolar District Mango Growers’ and Farmers’ Association which was seeking regulation of APMC markets in Srinivaspur, Chikkaballapur, Bangalore and Ramanagara.