MYSURU, 27 July

Farmers protested in Mysuru and outside Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd in Nanjangud on Monday, demanding that the Karnataka government immediately declare drought-hit taluks, provide relief and address long-pending issues faced by sugarcane growers.

The protests, organised under the banner of the Karnataka State Sugarcane Growers Association, saw demonstrators gather outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Mysuru, alleging that more than 20 districts were reeling under drought due to deficient rainfall, leaving standing kharif crops, including maize, oilseeds, pulses and ragi, withering.

They urged the government to conduct a damage assessment, begin relief operations, waive crop loans, stop coerciveloan recovery by nationalised banks, establish fodder banks, ease the drinking water crisis, provide funds for transformers for irrigation pump sets and pay compensation of ₹Rs 0,000 per acre for crop losses.

The association also accused sugar mills in south Karnataka of paying farmers far below the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP). It claimed mills in north Karnataka were paying around Rs 3,350 per tonne without deducting transport and harvesting charges, while mills in Mysuru, Mandya and Chamarajanagar were paying only about Rs 2,000 per tonne after deductions. Farmers further demanded the release of the pending government-announced incentive of ₹50 per tonne.

At a separate protest outside Bannari Amman Sugars Ltd in Alaganchi, a farmers' delegation met Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who assured them that he would take up their demands and hold discussions with the mill management on releasing the pending incentive.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said the State Government would press the Centre for drought assistance. He said Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had convened a meeting with Karnataka's Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs in New Delhi to discuss the worsening drought and seek Central support. Parameshwara said both he and the Chief Minister had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union ministers seeking assistance, but were yet to receive a response.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Monday that the state has Rs 341 crore available to ensure drinking water supply and that there is no shortage of funds. He also directed officials to drill new borewells only in cases of absolute necessity.

Khandre said Rs 117 crore had already been released for rural drinking water supply. The chief minister had also announced Rs 1 crore for each Assembly constituency to fund drinking water projects. He said officials have been told to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply in Gram Panchayat areas where water sources have dried up.