Kolhapur: Farmers union Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) is set to block national highways in Kolhapur district on Sunday, disrupting traffic and putting pressure on sugar mills to accept their demands, reported The Times of India.
The Pune-Bengaluru National Highway (NH-48) and a segment of Nagpur-Ratnagiri NH-166 pass through the district. In addition to these national highways, numerous state highways linking Kolhapur to neighboring districts and the Konkan region will also be obstructed, as part of the protest initiated by Raju Shetti.
Addressing reporters, SSS president Raju Shetti affirmed his determination to compel sugar mills to accede to the stipulated demands, highlighting that Sunday’s agitation is a continuation of protests unfolding over the past two to three weeks.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the state government’s response to farmer protests, Shetti articulated, “We have resolved to implement the chakka jam following inconclusive discussions with the guardian minister and sugar millers.”
Shetti has insisted on a payment of additional Rs 400 per tonne from the previous season’s sugar mill profits. Additionally, he has advocated for Rs 3,500 per tonne for the sugarcane supplied during the ongoing crushing season, which officially commenced on November 1. Some sugar mills in the Kolhapur district have either halted or slowed down crushing operations to avert confrontations with Shetti-led outfit workers.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer stated heightened vigilance among personnel and deployment instructions to police stations for key roadways to maintain unobstructed traffic flow.
“The district administration has already enforced prohibitory orders on unlawful assembly to uphold law and order in the district,” stated the officer.
