Uttar Pradesh Sugarcane Minister Suresh Rana, during his visit to Meerut on Thursday, claimed that action would be taken against sugar mills failing to comply with the state government’s orders pertaining to prompt payment to sugarcane farmers
Sugarcane Minister Suresh Rana said all efforts were being made to clear the dues of sugarcane farmers, which is on the top priority of the Yogi government.
“A record payment of Rs 24500 crore sugarcane dues has been made to farmers in the state and now our target is to clear the remaining Rs 10800 crore,” he said, giving credit for this to the “effective management of Yogi and Modi governments”.
The minister was here to attend a review meeting with managers and officials of the sugar mills of Meerut and Saharanpur divisions. Senior officials including Divisional Commissioner Anita C Meshram were also present at the meeting.
Later, speaking to the media, the minister said the government had worked hard to improve the condition of sugarcane farmers in the state. “The Yogi government is duty-bound to clear the dues of the sugarcane farmers. The meeting with the mill owners was hence organised to speed up the process of payment,” he said.
The minister said Simbhavli, Modinagar and Mawana sugarmills were far behind the targets of clearing the payments.
Rana said Wave, Venus and Saharanpur sugar mills were being reopened while three others — Ramala, Mohiuddinpur and Nazibabad – sugar mills were being expanded.
The minister said the state had recorded 38 per cent of the total production of sugar. Mills crushed record 111 crore quintals of sugarcane during the previous crushing season in comparison of 82 crore quintal in 2016-17 and 64 crore quintal in 2015-16.
