BJP to form action committee to fight for distressed areca growers: Nagaraj Shetty

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 2013: B Nagaraj Shetty convener of Dakshina Kannada district BJP election campaign committee said that the people of Tulunad and Malenad highly depend on areca farming and the areca growers have faced a huge loss due to the  Yellow leaf disease of areca nut due to the incessant rain lashing the region  in three months.

Speaking at the press meet held at BJP Office on Aug 20, Wednesday, he said that yellow diseases have spread to the areca tree roots destroying 50-60% of arecanuts.

In order to attract  the attention of the state government towards the problems of areca growers, district units of BJP from Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chichickmagalur and Shimoga under the leadership of former CM  Sadananda Gowda and former deputy CM Eshwarappa will hold a meeting at Shimoga on August 25 and form an Action Committee to fight for justice to areca growers. Shetty said that the BJP leaders have even met Chief Minister Siddharamaiah to the  areca growers problem and demand  compensation to the  growers who have incurred heavy losses.

He urged the state government to  implement the recommendations of Gorak Singh report immediately in the interests of areca growers.

District BJP President Padmanabha Kottary was present at the press meet.