Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Sep 5: Areca Growers’ Federation and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Hasiru Sene held mass protests in front of BC Road mini Vidhana Soudha in the leadership of zilla panchayat member Tungappa Bangera on September 4 urging for suitable solution for Kole Roga menace of areca nuts. The protests were withdrawn only after MLA Rajesh Naik visited the venue and promised to solve the problems after visiting the chief minister.

“Farmers in the taluk have incurred heavy loss due to floods this year. No compensation is paid by the government even though farmers are devastated by Kole roga. Therefore, Rs two lac compensation per acre should be paid to affected farmers,” they urged. BJP district spokesperson Harikrishna Bantwal said that officials have no concern towards farmers. Farmer’s association leaders N Manohar Shetty, Subrahmanya Shastri, Manikyaraj Jain, M subrahmanya Bhat, Muruva Mahabala Bhat addressed the protesters.

Delegation to chief minister

MLA U Rajesh Naik said that he has spoken to the chief minister about the Kole roga. “The chief minister has asked the deputy commissioner to conduct inspection of affected areas. It will be done by two groups from Wednesday.” He said that a delegation of farmers will be visiting the chief minister to request for solution and compensation under natural calamities fund. He said that the farmers should also make use of crop insurance.

There were complaints there tahsildar does not accept complaints of Kole roga. Tahsildar Purandara Hedge asked to submit details of the loss in stipulated format. “It should include copies of property details, aadhaar and bank pass book,” he said.