Roorkee: Inspite of assurance from Uttarakhand government that all cane dues would be cleared by September 30, sugarcane farmers yet not received the sugarcane arrears. Farmers who gave sugarcane to Iqbalpur sugar mill are in big trouble. Despite agitation by the farmers many times, the mill failed to clear the cane dues. This has enraged the farmers and claims that both government and sugar mill is cheating them.
Farmers organized an agitation at the administrative office on Tuesday. Gulshan Rod, president of Kisan Morcha said, “Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had called a meeting on September 12 and assured farmers that the pending arrears worth Rs 72 crore will be paid by the mill till September 30. However, the mill has not paid the dues yet. The BJP leaders are busy in taking credit but are not determined to solve the issues.”
Sugarcane farmers claim that their financial condition is worsening day-by-day as they have not received dues from mills. Farmers assert that they are unable to feed their families, nor able to pay school fees of their children.
As sugar mills are suffering from financial scarcity, Central government introduced various measures for them. Recently, with an aim to reduce the sugar surplus and low down cane arrears, the government has approved the sugar export subsidy. Sugar mills across India claim that due to depressed sugar prices and sugar surplus they are facing financial crunch and therefore are unable to clear the cane dues.
