Declare Belagavi district as drought-affected: Farmers

Belagavi: The activists of Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene staged a protest in Belagavi, on Friday and demanded the state government to declare Belagavi a drought-affected district and release compensation to farmers.The farmers, who marched from Chennamma Circle to the deputy commissioner’s office in Belagavi, shouted slogans to fulfill their demands and condemned the hike in electricity charges.Chunappa Pujeri, president Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene spoke to the media and said that the farmers' lives have been severely affected due to lack of monsoon rains and drought. “The government should wake up immediately and provide drought relief. A compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre should be given, fodder banks should be established for the livestock by the district and farmers' loan recovery should be completely stopped and waived,” he demanded.“Farmers have been shocked by the sharp hike in power tariff. The government should immediately take it back and re-implement the previous rates,” he said.Suresh Pargannavar, vice president of the organisation said that the arrears to the sugarcane growers should be settled immediately. Action should be taken for the appointment of officers and staff in all departments concerned to farmers, including the agriculture, animal husbandry and sugar corporation.Farmer leaders Basavaraj Bichuru, Ramesh Wali, Raghavendra Naik and Prakash Naik were present.
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