Ahmedabad: Hundreds of farmers under the banner of the Mandvi Sugar Bachao Farmers’ Committee staged a protest outside Junnar Sugars Limited in Mandvi taluka of Surat district. The protest came after the factory began crushing sugarcane purchased from farmers in neighbouring Tapi district.
Previously known as Mandvi Sugar Cooperative, the factory was renamed Junnar Sugars in 2019 when its premises in Bodhan Village were auctioned and acquired by the new owners. Farmers have opposed the privatization of the facility since then.
Upon learning that Junnar Sugars had resumed production, farmers, labour contractors, and transport vehicle owners gathered on Tuesday at the factory’s main gate to stage a dharna.
“We are protesting as we have come to know that Junnar Sugars has been running the boiler for the last few days. They have purchased sugarcane from farmers of neighbouring Tapi district and have started crushing activities to manufacture sugar. The sugar mill did not have IEM (Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum) – a licence to run the factory. So, how could they run such a factory?” Mandvi Sugar Bachavo Samiti president Sandeep Sharma was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Efforts to contact Junnar Sugars’ management for their response to these allegations were unsuccessful, reported The Indian Express.
Sharma added, “We are protesting against privatisation of the Mandvi sugar mills, which has been sold by the consortium of banks to Junnar Sugars Limited. Last year, we had made representations to two ministers but no action has been taken against Junnar Sugars till date.” He said farmers would monitor the situation for a few more days before deciding on further protests.
In 2019, after receiving approval from the Surat district collector, the bank consortium auctioned Mandvi Sugar’s assets to recover debts under the SARFAESI Act. Junnar Sugars Limited acquired both the movable and immovable properties of the mill in the auction.
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