Mangalore : Former Deputy Chief Minister K.S. Eshwarappa said that the areca growers have faced a huge loss due to the Yellow leaf disease and demanded the State government to introduce special package for the farmers as the compensation.

Speaking at the press club held at Hotel Saffron on August 30, Friday he said that the yellow diseases seen in the arecanut have spread to the areca tree roots destroying it to 50-60%. The government must give the compensation of Rs 50,000 for one acre land.

Former CM DV Sadanand Gowda urged the CM Siddharamiah to make a detailed study of areca growers and loss faced by them.

If the government does not respond to pay the compensation with September 5, the BJP will fight for justice to areca growers, he said.

DVS said that the proposal regarding the compensation will be given to the central Government through CM Siddaramaiah. If the state government responds properly, the central government will also give the compensation. If the government does not respond to pay the compensation with September 5, the BJP will fight for justice to areca growers, he said.

B Nagaraj Shetty, convener of Dakshina Kannada district BJP election campaign committee, MP Nalin Kumar Katee and Sulochana G K Bhat were present at the press meet.