Aujla’s surprise check at sugar mill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 1

Lok Sabha member Gurjeet Singh Aujla today conducted a surprise check at Ajnala Cooperative Sugar Mill at Bhala Pind near here today. He said the visit was planned after it was brought to his notice that farmers were facing issues in the sale of their sugarcane crop.

Aujla said while the functioning of the mill was largely found satisfactory, it was found that due to the negligence of a few surveyors of the mill, farmers had faced problems in getting tokens. Farmers are issued tokens according to which they wait for their turn at the sale counter of the mill to avoid rush. Aujla said the timetable and other necessary information had also been displayed at gurdwaras and public places in villages where sugarcane crop is cultivated.

The MP said the new system adopted by the mill was also not properly communicated to the farmers as they failed in attending the seminars and conferences organised by the officials. He said that lack of communication between farmers and the mill officials had resulted in a trouble for farmers.

“The mill is not performing to its full capacity. Most of the machines were installed in 1991 and their spare parts are not available now,” he said.

The MP issued instructions to mill general manager Shiv Raj Pal Singh of the mill to provide a detailed report on this which would be later discussed with the Chief Minister for the upgradation of the mill equipment. The farmers also raised the issue of non-payment of previous year’s dues.

Shiv Raj Pal Singh said cash limits had been released by the government and most of the payments would be released within a few days. He said that in future all payments would be made within 15 days of purchase.