New Delhi: Udupi Chikmagalur MP Shobha Karandlaje has urged the union government to release funds under Comprehensive Coffee Development Plan, subsidies, insurance and others to support the coffee growers in the state. The union government yet to release balance of Rs 650 crore reserved under Comprehensive Coffee Development Plan in the 12th five year plan, she was speaking in Loka Sabha on Monday under Rule 377.

The centre had earlier released a small portion of Rs 650 crore funds and remaining yet to be released. Meanwhile, the tenure of the 12 five year plan is scheduled to end in 2017 and the government must take necessary steps to release the balance amount immediately for the well being of the coffee growers in the state.

The MP further urged the centre to sanction subsidies under various schemes to the coffee growers as they have been blocked for the last 9 months. The coffee board was submitted an action plan worth Rs 26 crore to centre. Therefore, the centre has to take necessary steps to provide necessary grants to the board to move forward with action plan submitted.

Crop insurance should be distributed to all the claimers in the state also the coffee board in the state require nearly Rs 35 crore to disburse various applications submitted by the growers to the board and government. Shobha also forced the government to include coffee beans to the commodities list which are exempted from GST.