Belgavi, Karnataka: Sugarcane crushing season ended in Karnataka but the mills are yet to clear the cane dues of around Rs 450 crore to the cane farmers. Around 64 sugar mills participated in the cane crushing operations this season.
Sugarcane farmers have urged the state government to take action against the mills that have not paid cane dues of farmers. Farmers claim that they are reeling under financial pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic,
According to the news report published in newindianexpress.com, cane grower and farmer leader Shashikant Joshi said, “Sugar mills are bound to clear cane bills within 14 days of receiving sugarcane as per the Sugarcane Control Act, 1966. If the mills fail to pay bills then they should pay dues with 15 per cent interest on it as per rule.”
As per the government records, the factories owed Rs 450 crore to the cane growers as on May 31 this year.
In Karnataka, all the operating mills had closed their crushing operations by 15th April, 2021 and have produced 41.67 lakh tonnes of sugar as compared to 33.80 lac tons produced last year same period.
