Sanguem: The government swiftly responded to concerns raised by sugarcane farmers in Sanguem, as reported by O Heraldo, by releasing minutes from a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on January 9, reported Herald Goa.
The minutes, documented by Satej Kamat, Administrator of Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd, were disclosed on Tuesday, nearly three months after the meeting.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant affirmed the government’s efforts towards reviving the Sanjivani Sugar Factory. He disclosed that an advertisement inviting a ‘Request For Quote’ was published in newspapers on January 9, 2024, coinciding with the day of the meeting. The Chief Minister stressed that the plant, alongside sugar production, will also manufacture ethanol and operate under a public-private partnership model. He encouraged farmers to continue cultivating sugarcane, assuring them that the Sanjivani factory would accept their produce for crushing upon resumption of operations.
Furthermore, Chief Minister Sawant assured that the special assistance, previously announced by the government, will persist for the current financial year until March 31, 2025.
The meeting, held at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Altinho, saw former MP Narendra Sawaikar, serving as Chairman of the Sugarcane Farmers Facilitation Committee, and Satej Kamat in attendance. Additionally, representatives from the Agriculture sector, including the Agriculture Secretary, Director, and Deputy Director (Crops), were present.
