Goa's sugarcane farmers block national highway
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 14 September 2015 15:40 IST
Sugarcane farmers blocked a national highway today for almost an hour today afternoon near the Sanjeevani sugar factory at Dharbandora.
Around 157 farmers, furious over not getting support price for the sugarcane, blocked the highway NH 4A going to Belgaum from Ponda.
The farmers came out from the general body meeting of sugarcane growers at the Sanjeevani sugar factory and resorted to the action of Rasta Roko.
Goa has total 1235 sugarcane growers and the state government gives them support price.
However, these 157 farmers were not paid the support price since they did not have a Krishi Card, a legal requirement for the payment.
Accordingly, the aggrieved farmers had met chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar as well as agriculture minister Ramesh Tawadkar.
They were promised payment of the support price by 10 September.
However, when they came for a general body meeting at the sugar factory today, they came to know that their payment was still not released.
Getting agitated over the inaction of the government, the furious farmers came and sat on the road, blocking the highway.
Deputy collector Sagun Velip rushed to the spot and cleared the road while assuring an amicable settlement with the sugar factory officials.
Simple solution: Close sanjivani down.