‘CM keen on reviving Brahmavar sugar factory’

Udupi District In-charge Minister Jayamala on Sunday promised to initiate measures to revive the Brahmavar sugar factory in the district.

She was speaking at the International Farmers Day and Raitha Samparka meet, organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat, department of agriculture and Krishika Samaja in Manipal.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is keen on reviving the sugar factory at Brahmavar. Even the farmers are keen on cultivating sugarcane in the region, she said.

“The coalition government is committed to the welfare of the farmers.”

She, further, said the government would solve the problems faced by the farmers in a phased manner.

“The UPA government had waived Rs 70,000 crore loans borrowed by the farmers. The previous Siddaramaiah government had waived Rs 8,000 crore borrowed by the farmers. Now, the coalition government too has waived the loans borrowed by the farmers.”

She said the farmer leaders should create awareness on the welfare programmes initiated by the government.

MLA K Raghupathy Bhat said there was ample opportunities for agricultural and horticultural crops in the district.

The Varahi project that was envisaged to irrigate farm land was partially completed. The farmers, who have repaid the loans honestly are not benefited from the loan waiver scheme, he added.

He urged the government to announce support price for the crops. As many as 40 farmers, who had achieved success in farming, were felicitated.

Probe

Later, during the Raitha Janasamparka Sabhe, the minister said that she had received complaints from farmers about misappropriation of funds released to watershed department.

Deputy Commissioner will be asked to conduct a probe and submit a report at the earliest, Jayamala said.

Farmer leaders said funds were claimed even for planting a dead plant.

The department officials had initiated the contract only for construction of vented dams, they alleged.

Another farmer leader alleged that the welfare programmes of the government had failed to reach the beneficiaries.