FARMER COMMIT SUICIDE

Madikeri July 29 A farmer committed suicide at Makkandur village near here. Mollera Krishnappa (68) shot himself inside his house when other inmates were out. The unbearable loan turned his mind to kill himself-according to the family members. He left his wife and four children.

COFFEE :RS.5.16 CRORE LOSS

Madikeri July 29. The heavy and incessant rain caused loss of coffee crop during the year. The loss estimated in Kodagu is Rs. 5.16 crores. Dr. Kaverappa, the Coffee Board member has informed this to the Central Govt’s observation team when the members visited Kodagu to study the damages in this Malnad District. Dr. kaverappa also explained that the Central Govt. is getting Rs. 2004 crore foreign exchange from Coffee and Kodagu is producing nearly 50% of the National production,. The central Govt. should consider waiving off Rs. 1,200 crore loans borrowed by the coffee growers. Further, to withstand the damages, the Govt. should announce the interest exemption on crop loans in future atleast for three years-coffee board member requested.

TRIBES STAGED DHARNA

Madikeri July 29 The Nagarahole tribes staged dharna in front of Thaluk Thahsidar’s office at Virajpet. They demanded to stop unnecessary harassment by the forest department officials in Nagarahole region. They opposed the false case by the department through the police against the innocent tribes in Nagarahole. They warned serious consequences if such harassment continued by the department. The agitation was led by the tribal agitation committee president Bhojamma, the ex. Minister Suma Vasanth, Z.P.Member M.G.Abdul lathif and others.

The harassment issue was also discussed in the Z.P.meeting held at Madikeri yesterday. The meeting was presided by the Z.P.president H.S.Ashok.The Z,P. member Rajarao alleged that the blankets and other materials distributed under the tribal welfare scheme in Nagarhole region is of low quality. The amount is being misused he added. The forest officer K.T.Poovaiah and the forester Subbaiah are harassing the tribes with false complaints. They have seized the ginger cultivated by the tribal community and are disturbing the smooth running life. The Z.P. health and education committee chairman V.P.Shashidhar supported Raja Rao. He charged the social welfare and ITDP officials of keeping mum about the rich people using the tribal children as their servants for their personal gain. B.J .P member Dhramaja also voiced and disclosed that land belong to tribes in Chennayanakote area is encroached by the influential persons;But the social welfare department is deaf in hearing the grievances-he alleged.Congress member M.K.nanjappa and B.J.P member Manu Muthappa criticized the interference of bogus enviormentalists who pester the calmness among the tribes in Nagarhole region.The Z.P. President H.S.Ashok and Vice President B.C.Neelamma reacted to this and assured proper investigation and necessary action against the troublesome persons.