Cane farmers protest for pending dues

Our Correspondent

Mukerian, August 25

A protest was held in front of the office Mukerian Sugar Mill by farmers’ organisations seeking the payment of Rs55.31 crore outstanding dues. The protesters warned to intensify protest if dues are not paid within 15 days. Farmers surrounded the office of the sugarcane mill management under the leadership of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Samiti, Punjab, and Kisan Mazdoor Hitkar Sabha, Mukerian. The protesters raised slogans against the mill management and the state government and reiterated the demand for payment of dues.

Farmers leaders Jasvir Singh Goraya and Omkar Singh Purana Bhangala said the mill management had been ignoring the demands. They alleged that the mill management did not keep up with its previous promises and instead of Rs25 crore, only Rs14 crore were paid to farmers. Officials of the mill said the balance amount was being paid by the mill according to their capacity and the current dues are Rs48.86 crore. They assured the farmers that all dues would be paid by October end.

Sugarcane growers seek hike in FRP

Jalandhar: Sugarcane growers in the district have urged the state government to hike the prices by Rs50 per quintal. The Union Cabinet had announced to increase the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP), by Rs10 to Rs285 per quintal, but farmers want the state government to hike the prices by Rs50 per quintal.

Gurpreet Singh Atwal, a member of the Doaba Kisan Union, said, “We still haven’t received the pending amount of the crop sold to the government and the private mills. While the amount pending with the government mills is Rs125 crore, the private mills owe Rs185 crore. As per the revised prices, now the sugarcane price per quintal stands at Rs310 in Punjab.”