BELAGAVI: Anticipating an escalation in crisis faced by sugarcane growers of north Karnataka during November-December, the state government seems unlikely to hold the winter session of legislature at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in this border city this year-end.
Official sources told Deccan Chronicle that the government was aware that crushing season commences in November but with managements of some private sugar factories threatening not to crush even a ton of sugarcane during the news season, the crisis could escalate. Already, managements of sugar factories are at loggerheads with the government over seizure of more than nine lakh tons of sugar for non-payment of Rs 200 a ton due to farmers for 2013-14.
Managements of sugar factories had made it clear that they would stop running their units during the current crushing season because of their inability to pay the price fixed by the government for sugarcane. With prices of sugar hitting rock bottom owing to a spurt in sugar production, these units lack funds to pay the FRP fixed by the Union government.
Sources said the government had been holding winter session of legislature for at least 20 days since last two year in Belagavi to assuage the feelings of people of this region. Whenever the session was held in Belagavi, the government headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah faced one or other serious problem.
Two years ago, Vittal Arabhavi, a sugarcane farmer, committed suicide by consuming poison just outside Suvarna Vidhana Soudha which forced Mr Siddaramaiah to announce a special incentive to farmers besides asking private sugar factories to pay Rs 200 a ton to them. Last year, the session held here witnessed protests by farmers.
