Ambala: The mounting cane arrear in Haryana has put sugarcane farmers in financial distress. Sugarcane farmers, who gave their sugarcane to the private sugar mill in Ambala, have intensified their protest due to non-payment of cane arrears. They staged a demonstration outside the sugar factory demanding sugar mill to pay the dues of the 2018-2019 season at the earliest.
They protested by removing their clothes as a mark of protest. They are angry as they have not received arrears of sugarcane. Earlier, they held a mahapanchayat in Naraingarh over cane dues and served the deadline of August 22 to clear the dues or warned to face the heat. Following, Sugarcane farmers were assured that soon their dues would be cleared as soon as mill get the loan. Even after the deadline, cane farmers are awaiting the payment.
The rule mandates that FRP amount should be deposited to the farmers’ bank accounts within 14 days after the sugarcane harvest is handed over to the factory owners, but the mill failed to do so. According to reports, the sugar mill has not paid farmers since January. Sugar mill citing depressed sugar prices and scarcity of money as a reason in delay in clearing the cane dues.
Over 5,000 farmers are awaiting Rs 86 crore payment from Naraingarh Sugar Mills Ltd for the sugarcane sold during the 2018-19 season. They also threatened to intensify the stir if their dues were not cleared forthwith.
