From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jul 4: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has promised the grape growers of the State that he will take up the problems faced by them with the Centre and demand complete waiver of loans taken by them.

The chief minister gave the assurance after farmers under the stewardship of Planning, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Science and Technology Minister S R Patil met him at his home office “Krishna” here today.

Patil reminded the chief minister that the government should strongly take up the issue with the previous BJP regime in keeping with the promise made by the Congress party when it was in the Opposition and both of them had been Opposition leaders in Upper and Lower houses respectively early this year.

''It is now our duty to protect the interest of grape growrs who are caught in debt trap following the failure of crop due to continuous drought in the last 5 years, Patil said.

Patil said it would go long way in helping the farmers if the Centre chose to extend the special assistance on the line of “Vidarbha Package.”

The farmers had already petitioned the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and in turn the latter had assured that he would consider if a proposal had come from the State, Patil said.

President of Karnataka Grape Growers Association, Abhaykumar Nandrekar said about 90 per cent of loan taken by grape growers had become NPA, and many of them had committed suicide.

Siddaramaiah responded saying that he was committed to the demand of waiver of loan taken by grape growers.

He instructed the officials of Horticulture Department to prepare a proposal in this regard. Once the proposal was ready he would take up the issue with the Union Government.

Water Resources Minister M B Patil, Indi MLA Yashwantharaygouda Patil, association office bearers Dr Mumbareddy, Prakash Gani and Sushilkumar Belagali were present.