Brahmavar Sugar Factory stir ends after govt assurance

Udupi

The indefinite protest by Zilla Raitha Sangha in front of the closed Brahmavar Sugar Factory has come to an end after nearly 50 days. The farmers had launched the dharna on February 22, alleging corruption in the sale of scrap from the factory, officially known as the Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Sugar Factory.

Former MLC Pratapchandra Shetty said, “The government responded to the day and night satyagraha of farmers and issued a circular.” He added that Deputy Commissioner K Vidya Kumari and Superintendent of Police K Arun visited the site and urged the farmers to withdraw the protest, assuring them of further action.

Sangha members alleged that misappropriation in the sale of factory scrap caused a loss of ₹14 crore. They claimed that scrap worth ₹21.9 crore was sold between January and June 2022, but only ₹11.4 crore was recorded. “Although there were copper, brass, aluminium and iron, which vary in their value, those items were not segregated,” the protestors said.

They also alleged that procedures like e-procurement were not followed and crucial documents such as e-way bills, gate passes, and weighbridge receipts were missing. Complaints were initially filed with government departments in October 2022 and later with Brahmavar police. As the police didn’t register the complaint, a private complaint was filed in court, which then directed the police to investigate the case. With the government promising to take action, the farmers agreed to suspend their protest.