Ambala: Naraingarh sugar mill will start cane crushing operations next month despite pending cane dues worth Rs 61 crore from the previous season. The mill had purchased 46.26 lakh quintals of cane worth Rs 165.51 crore from the farmers in the last season.
“We are yet to receive cane dues worth Rs 61 crore from the sugar mill for the previous season and it has started preparations to start crushing operations for the upcoming season. As per the norms, the mills should clear dues within 14 days of crushing the cane. Farmers have to pay advance payments to cane harvesters and they are already facing a financial crisis due to loss in the paddy and wheat yield. The mill should take immediate steps to clear remaining cane dues,” said Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) spokesman Rajiv Sharma.
Vinod Rana, president of Ganna Kisan Sangharsh Samiti said, “We are already at a loss as we have spent huge amounts on spraying pesticides to save cane from pests. We have requested the administration to start the crushing season by the first week of November.”
The officials have stated that the crushing season will start after November 15 due to heavy rains in the region.
