Farmers block Sannur toll plaza, demand exemption for cane-laden vehicles

Members of the Karnataka Pranta Raitha Sangha (KPRS) on Wednesday blocked the Sannur toll plaza in Kalaburagi district, protesting against toll collection from vehicles transporting sugarcane to factories.

The organisation submitted a memorandum to senior officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Public Works Department, demanding immediate exemption for all cane–carrying tractors and lorries on both State and national highways.

In their representation, KPRS leaders said sugarcane growers have been pushed into distress after successive crop losses owing to unseasonal rains. Farmers dependent on cane cultivation are already struggling with issues such as low recovery rates, unfair weight deductions, and inadequate support prices. At a time when growers are reeling under financial strain, toll plazas demanding payment from vehicles transporting their produce amounts to injustice, they said in the memorandum.

“Toll booths, including the Sannur plaza, have become anti-farmer by collecting money from cane-laden vehicles headed to sugar factories. The toll operators must immediately stop collecting fees from such vehicles and that the government should formally notify toll exemption. We also demand a thorough inquiry into the functioning of the Sannur toll plaza and action against violations, including delays in FASTag clearance, which often exceeds the mandated 10 seconds,” Sharanabasappa Mamshetty, district president of KPRS, said during the protest and warned that if officials fail to act, his organisation would intensify its agitation and launch a larger movement to shut down toll plazas across the district.

The agitating farmers also criticised the recent nationwide hike of 4 to 5% in toll charges, which came into effect on Tuesday. “The increase has made life even more difficult for ordinary citizens, especially during the holiday season when families travel for festivals, weddings and vacations. Imposing higher toll charges during such a period shows the Centre’s insensitivity towards the hardships faced by people,” Mr. Veeranna Gangani, another farmer leader, said.

KPRS members said that continuous price rise, rising fuel costs and what they described as the Union government’s “pro-corporate policies” have already deepened the crisis for common people. They added that on matters affecting citizens’ daily lives, both the BJP and the Congress “act like two sides of the same coin”, pointing to similar decisions on fuel pricing and toll policy.

The district committee said it plans to intensify protests against policies that burden farmers and the middle class.