Phagwara: On Thursday, a group of farmers protested in Phagwara, demanding the payment of Rs 41 crore in dues against sugarcane to be paid by a local sugar mill, reports PTI.
The activists of Bharti Kisan Union, Doaba, organised a demonstration that was led by its general secretary, Satnam Singh Sahni, in which slogans against the mill management were raised by protestors.
Sahni claimed that the mill owes Rs 27 crore for the 2022-23 cane crushing season, in addition to Rs 14 crore, along with interest, for the 2023-24 season.
As per media report, in response, Sub-divisional Magistrate Jashanjit Singh informed the farmers that the mill management had provided a written assurance to clear this season’s dues by August 31. He also mentioned that 14 properties belonging to the mill, valued at Rs 33 crore, had been attached. These properties are scheduled to be auctioned on September 12, pending approval from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The mill management has reportedly approached the high court to challenge the attachment of its properties.
