Belagavi, Karnataka: The district administration of Belagavi has asked sugar factories to clear all the outstanding payments to farmers without any delay, reported The Hindu.
Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil said that the directive should be implemented strictly and mills should clear all the arrears concerning sugarcane bills by June 25. He was speaking at a meeting in the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Belagavi on Wednesday where sugarcane growers and sugar mill representatives were present.
Out of the total 28 sugar factories in the district, there are three that have outstanding arrears at this point. Deputy Commissioner Patil has stated that mills should comply with the legal provisions by paying the due amount along with a 15% interest rate for the same within the stipulated time frame.
He asked factory managements to submit letters with assurance that the bills will be paid with interest before June 25.
Additionally, he stated that steps would be taken to settle the outstanding payments to farmers within a week through the auction of sugar stocks and assets from seized sugar mills.
Patil ordered officials to prepare a detailed report calculating the outstanding amount owed by factories in the district with accrued interest.
Those present included farmers’ leader and former Minister Sashikantha Naik, Joint Director of the Food Department Srishail Kankanwadi, leaders of various sugar factories, and their representatives.
