Thanjavur: Kilvelur MLA V.P. Nagaimaali has expressed confidence that the long-standing demands of sugarcane farmers who supplied cane to the private sugar mill at Thirumandankudi will be resolved soon, reported The Hindu.
He attributed the progress to his efforts in raising the issue of the farmers’ hardships in the Legislative Assembly.
Nagaimaali informed reporters that a tripartite meeting, chaired by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi at the Thanjavur Collectorate, had yielded positive outcomes. The new management of the defunct sugar mill has agreed to address nearly 80% of the farmers’ demands, including the disbursement of 75% of the outstanding cane cost.
Nagaimaali further stated that he and Mr. Mahesh would be meeting with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to provide a detailed update on the progress made.
However, farmers’ representatives, including Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers’ Welfare Protection Association, and Ravindran, State general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Karumbu Vivasayigal Sangam, maintained their stance on the complete repayment of outstanding cane costs with interest and the resolution of the issue of bank loans illegally taken in their names by the previous mill management.
