Sangareddy: According to the news report by The New Indian Express, the district administration in Zaheerabad may take action against Trident Sugar Limited if it fails to clear pending sugarcane dues.
News report say that administration might take action against the owners under the Telangana Revenue Recovery (TRR) Act, 1864. If the management does not clear the dues of farmers and workers by February 28, the authorities will sell the firm’s assets to clear the outstanding payment.
A committee, under the leadership of Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, has been formed to oversee the necessary measures for revitalizing the sugar industry. In addition to instructing the reopening of the factory, the management has been mandated to settle all outstanding dues owed to the farmers.
Despite prior warnings, the company failed to rectify the issue, resulting in the authorities shutting down the factory in the latter half of 2023. Farmers had previously raised concerns about unpaid dues amounting to Rs 7 crore, initiating agitation programs for immediate payment. Regrettably, Trident Sugars’ management remained unresponsive.
District cane commissioner Rajasekhar confirmed that a notice has been sent to the management, demanding the clearance of dues by February 28, failing which the industry’s assets will be auctioned. Officials are presently compiling a list of properties to be auctioned.
District collector Valluru Kranthi convened a meeting on Wednesday with industry owners, members of the Nizam Sugars Revival committee, Zaheerabad MLA Manik Rao, DCMS chairman Sivakumar, and farmer representatives. The collector emphasized that criminal cases would be filed against the owners if they failed to clear the dues by February 28.
In addition to the financial challenges posed by the Trident Sugars situation, farmers in the Zaheerabad region have faced operational hurdles for years. Once renowned for sugarcane cultivation, the region has seen farmers compelled to transport their crops to Ganapati Sugars near Sangareddy, as well as to factories in Nizamabad and Karnataka, incurring additional transportation costs and exacerbating financial strain.
In light of these difficulties, sugarcane farmers earnestly appeal to the government to intervene, facilitating the industry’s restoration and ensuring the prompt settlement of dues by Trident Sugars owners.
