Belagavi: Sugarcane farmers continued their agitation for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, October 14, blocking the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway at multiple locations and disrupting traffic across parts of Karnataka. The protests have affected movement along the Haveri-to-Kognoli stretch, with farmers staging demonstrations at several toll plazas to demand a remunerative price for sugarcane.
The agitation intensified on Tuesday after talks between farmers’ representatives and Union ministers in New Delhi failed to produce a breakthrough. Farmers’ organisations had subsequently called for a statewide protest, warning that the blockade would continue until the Centre addressed their demands.
In Belagavi district, hundreds of farmers gathered at the Hattargi toll plaza in Hukkeri taluk and blocked the highway. Similar protests were reported at the Hirebagewadi and Kognoli toll plazas, along with other locations across Karnataka, including Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Hubballi-Dharwad.
On Tuesday, October 13, farmers’ organisations in Belagavi declared that they would not withdraw the agitation unless Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi gave a concrete assurance that the minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar would be revised within a week.
Representatives of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Hasiru Sene, Kabbu Belegarara Okkoota and Samyukta Kisan Morcha said they would remain at the protest sites until the Union minister communicated a clear assurance.
The organisations maintained that they would not accept vague assurances and insisted on a definite commitment from the Centre.
Police announce alternative routes
With the blockade continuing, police have arranged traffic diversions for vehicles travelling between Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa. Motorists have been advised to use the following alternative routes:
Alternative routes for traffic towards Belagavi:
- Dharwad–Alnavar–Ramnagar–Khanapur–Belagavi
- Dharwad–Lingasugur Cross–Nandgad–Khanapur–Belagavi
- Kittur–Bidi–Nandgad–Khanapur–Belagavi
- Dharwad–Kittur–M.K. Hubballi–Pariswad–Khanapur–Belagavi
Alternative routes for light motor vehicles:
- Gokak–Nippani–Chikkodi
- Gokak–Kamatanur Gate–Hukkeri–Sankeshwar
Motorists travelling towards Belagavi from Yaragatti have also been advised to take the Yaragatti–Bagalkot or Yaragatti–Vijayapura routes, as indicated in the police advisory.
With farmers refusing to call off the agitation until a concrete assurance is given, traffic movement on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway is likely to remain affected until the blockade is lifted.