Ponda: Sugarcane farmers in Goa have threatened to approach the High Court if the government does not clarify the future of the Sanjivani sugar factory within 15 days. This move follows several agitations aimed at restarting the factory’s operations, as farmers express concerns over their future and sugarcane production activities.
The factory was shut down due to high operational costs stemming from the need to repair old machinery. According to the farmers, the government had promised that the factory would restart within a few years, potentially shifting to alternative production like ethanol, but this promise has not been fulfilled.
Farmers have accused the government of delaying tactics and failing to declare its policy on the factory’s future, even after four years of halted sugarcane crushing seasons. This has left them increasingly worried.
At a meeting held at the sugar factory premises in Dharbandora, the sugarcane farmers issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government to clarify its stance on the factory’s future, threatening to take the matter to court if no response is given.
The farmers claimed the government has kept them in the dark and expressed frustration over repeated unfulfilled promises to restart the factory. They accused the government of failing to meet their demand for the resumption of factory operations.
Rajendra Dessai, president of the All Goa Sugarcane Farmers’ Association, stated, “We will give the government 15 days to reply, failing which, we will decide our future course of action. Before going to court, we will serve a legal notice to the government seeking its reply.”
It has been four years since the sugar factory end operations, with the government repeatedly promising to restart it but failing to clarify its position.
Dessai added, “A private contractor was ready to set up an ethanol plant at the factory for a rent of Rs one crore. This proposal was submitted last year to the Chief Minister, but the government failed to reply.”
He said this lack of response indicates that the government is not serious about restarting the factory, prompting the farmers to decide to launch a legal battle by sending notices to the government.
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