Bijnor: The deadline of October 15 set by Allahabad High Court to clear pending sugarcane dues ended, but still sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh are yet to pay the arrears.
Sugarcane farmers alleged mills in Bijnor district owe Rs 230 crore to the cane growers despite the High Court order. The mills owe additional Rs 40 crore as interest on the amount.
Earlier, by giving a big relief to cane growers, the Allahabad High Court had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to clear the cane dues with 15 per cent interest on it within a month.
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 mills failed to do so. Sugar mills citing depressed sugar prices and scarcity of money as a reason in delay in clearing the cane dues.
