Karnataka urges Centre to halt maize imports as prices crash
Bengaluru/Mysuru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Friday stepped up pressure on the Centre to halt maize imports and immediately commence central procurement.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that farmers were in deep distress due to a sharp fall in market prices despite a bumper harvest.
Speaking to reporters at the Mysuru airport, the CM said, "The state would provide all kinds of assistance to farmers who are in distress due to the fall in maize prices."
He noted that although the Centre had fixed the MSP for maize at Rs 2,400 per quintal, procurement centres had not yet opened.
"Farmers are insisting that the procurement process be started," he said.
Citing concerns over the 70 lakh metric tonne of maize imported by the Centre, Siddaramaiah said the decision had stalled procurement by nodal agencies such as NAFED and NCCF.
"Because of this, farmers in some places are holding protests," he said.
Karnataka alone expects to produce around 55 lakh MT of maize this season, he added.
The CM said distilleries had already stocked up when prices were low.
"Instructions have been given to discuss with distillery owners to purchase maize as per rules and facilitate farmers," he said.
The state has now directed officials to set up procurement centres to purchase 10 lakh metric tonne of maize directly from farmers.
Siddaramaiah added that the government would write to the Centre not to import more maize at a time when the country had grown abundantly and required market stabilisation.
The chief minister also said Karnataka had sought crop-loss compensation from the Union government following rain damage over 15.5 lakh hectares.
An appeal for revision of Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norms for horse gram has been filed, and officials have been asked to visit Delhi for further discussions.
In a separate communication to the Union government, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, writing to Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary (Cooperation), flagged the gravity of the ongoing crisis.
"The market price of maize has fallen sharply, far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). This has pushed our farmers into a state of anxiety and financial vulnerability, at the very peak of the harvesting season," she wrote.
Rajneesh noted that while the MSP stood at Rs 2,400 per MT, prevailing prices in Karnataka were just Rs 1,600 per MT, with distress sales accelerating. The state has a marketable surplus of nearly 32 lakh MT, she said, calling for "urgent intervention from NAFED."
The letter proposed a two-fold strategy: immediate procurement under Price Support Scheme (PSS) or a market intervention mechanism, with 12.50 lakh MT allocated to Public Distribution Sheme (PDS) and national nutrition schemes, and 20 lakh MT procured for ethanol; and temporary restriction on import of maize to stabilise prices and "uphold the spirit of MSP."
The Chief Secretary also sought a one-time relaxation of FAQ norms for slightly discoloured greengram affected by recent rains.
"Timely action will restore confidence among farmers and uphold their rightful claim to fair compensation," the letter said.
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Nicobar Tribal Council Alleges FRA Violations in Great Nicobar Wildlife Sanctuaries
Sri Vijaypuram (Port Blair): The Tribal Council of Little and Great Nicobar has alleged fresh violations of the Forest Rights Act in the notification of three wildlife sanctuaries linked to the Centre’s ₹92,000-crore Great Nicobar Island project, even as the Calcutta High Court is set to hear petitions challenging the mega project over similar concerns next month.
The Union government had, in October 2022, notified three wildlife sanctuaries in parts of Little Nicobar Island, Menchal Island and Meroe Island for the conservation of leatherback turtles, megapodes and coral ecosystems. The move came after the government acknowledged that the proposed infrastructure project on Great Nicobar Island would affect coral colonies and nesting habitats of endangered species.
However, the tribal council has maintained that the sanctuaries were declared without consultation with the Nicobarese communities who traditionally inhabit and manage these islands.
In a letter dated April 23 addressed to the Assistant Conservator of Forests of the Nicobar Forest Division, the council reiterated its opposition to the sanctuaries and objected to the formation of a committee to determine eco-sensitive zones around the protected areas.
The council said its chairman had not been consulted before being included in the committee and was informed of his membership only a month after the committee was constituted.
The three notified sanctuaries include the Leatherback Turtle Sanctuary in parts of Little Nicobar Island, the Megapode Sanctuary covering the entire Menchal Island and the Coral Sanctuary spanning the whole of Meroe Island.
According to the council, Menchal and Meroe islands hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Nicobarese community, which believes the islands are inhabited by the spirits of their ancestors.
The council demanded that the sanctuary notifications be revoked and the eco-sensitive zone committee dissolved, alleging that both decisions were taken against the wishes of the indigenous community.
Meanwhile, Jairam Ramesh has written to Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram alleging violations of the Forest Rights Act in the process of obtaining consent for diversion of forest land for the Great Nicobar project.
Ramesh argued that consent should have been obtained through the Tribal Council representing the Nicobarese communities instead of through Gram Sabhas representing settler families. He also questioned how the government-controlled Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti could provide consent on behalf of the Shompen community, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.
He urged the Tribal Affairs Ministry to intervene and seek withdrawal of clearances granted for the project under the Forest Rights Act.
Earlier, Ramesh had also written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav alleging that environmental impact studies for the project were conducted in haste and without the detailed seasonal assessments mandated under environmental laws.
The dispute dates back to 2022 when the Andaman and Nicobar administration initiated the process for notifying the three sanctuaries before holding Special Gram Sabhas for diversion of forest land linked to the Great Nicobar project.
In May that year, the administration invited objections and claims regarding the proposed sanctuaries. Subsequently, on July 19, the Nicobar Deputy Commissioner certified that no objections or claims had been received.
The tribal council later wrote to the district administration stating that the notification process was carried out without ensuring that residents of Little Nicobar Island were informed as required by law. It alleged that no public announcements seeking objections were made in villages such as Bahua, Muhincoihn and Kiyang, whose residents traditionally use and manage parts of the notified areas.
The council said the Nicobarese community had protected the islands and wildlife for generations through customary practices and traditional belief systems.
It further argued that the sanctuaries would interfere with long-standing rights over forests and coastal areas. They noted that these areas are used for rituals, plantations, collection of forest produce, construction of huts and canoes, harvesting medicinal plants and worship.
In November 2024, the council objected to draft Island Coastal Regulation Zone plans, demanding basic infrastructure, instead of proposed eco-tourism activities in the sanctuaries. The council demanded better public restrooms, jetties, water facilities, pathways, and mobile connectivity.
The Nicobar administration issued a clarification in May 2025, stating that the sanctuaries would not affect hunting rights available to Scheduled Tribes in the Nicobar Islands. The council, however, rejected the clarification, stating that their dependence on forests and coasts extended far beyond hunting activities.
Earlier this month, a Bench led by the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court dismissed preliminary objections raised by the Union government against petitions challenging the diversion of forest land for the Great Nicobar project. The matter has now been listed for final hearing in June.
