The members and office-bearers of BJP Krishi Morcha unit have staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office, urging the government to release additional compensation for crop loss, in Madikeri on Monday.
The protesters claimed that farmers have incurred loss of crores of rupees due to heavy rain in the last five months. Agriculture crops including coffee, areca, paddy, cardamom and pepper have been destroyed and roads have been damaged in the rain. The government, so far has only released Rs 1 crore for taking up relief work in the district, which is meagre when compared to the loss suffered.
The district needs an additional amount of Rs 500 crore and the government should release it without any delay.
They urged the government to waive off loans of the farmers, provide subsidy for purchasing fertilisers and agriculture equipments. Relief package also should be announced for the loss incurred by coffee growers, protesters demanded. Zilla Panchayat member Kaddi Sundara, Taluk Panchayat President Renna Jagannath and others took part in the protest.
‘Do not delay’
Meanwhile, Additional Deputy Commissioner H Prasanna, convened a meeting of the tahsildars and officers at his office on Monday and directed them to dispose the applications seeking compensation under crop loss due to rainfall and distribute the compensation without delay.
He noticed the differences in statistical figures submitted by tahsildars, agriculture and horticulture departments and instructed the officers to rectify the errors. Compensation should be immediately released to those applicants where joint survey has been conducted.
The ADC directed the officers to distribute compensation before the chief minister’s visit to the district which is scheduled on November 18.
