Release arrears, ryots demand

The farmers demanded immediate release of arrear for them. As soon as the meeting began, they took managing director of the factory, Venkatesh Murthy to task for having faled to show the books of accounts pertaining to release of arrears to cane growers, to the deputy commissioner.

In fact, the DC had demanded the factory management to produce details of the number of farmers who are eligible for the arrears, three months ago. But, the factory management had failed to file its to the revenue authorities. The farmers, who protested the delay in disbursement of arrears, threatened to lay siege to the factory if the arrears was not released before September 30.

The MD pacified farmers and said the accounts were being audited. Details sought by the deputy commissioner would be furnished before September 30. B Manjunath, a ryot leader accused the factory of not replying to the showcause notice served by the DC to the factory MD, over delay in payment of arrears. The farmers urged the Deputy Commissioner to initiate action against the factory management for violation of rules. DC Chakravarthy Mohan, ZP CEO Sunder Nayak and others attended the meeting.